Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen was honoured at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona before scoring for Napoli in their 2-1 win over Cagliari in Serie A on Saturday.
The Nigerian, who was recently crowned the African Player of the Year at the CAF Awards, was celebrated before the start of the game in front of a packed audience inside the iconic stadium while holding the trophy and taking pictures with his family.
Victor Osimhen, 2023 @CAF_Online
Men’s Player of the Year, honored in Napoli ???????????? pic.twitter.com/5aH3BI9JNR— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) December 16, 2023
Napoli came into the game suffering back-to-back league defeats, but goals from Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on either side of Leonardo Pavoletti’s effort sealed a well-deserved three points for the defending Serie A champions.
Walter Mazzarri’s side came close to opening the scoring through defender Amir Rrahmani, but the Kosovan’s header off a freekick from Matteo Politano crashed off the woodwork to a sigh of relief from the opposing side.
Osimhen eventually got on the scoresheet, breaking the deadlock with his seventh Serie A goal of the season. The Nigerian rose up, beating two Cagliari defenders, before powering home a strong header in the 69th minute following a brilliant cross from Portuguese fullback Marco Rui.
Italian forward Pavoletti got Cagliari level almost immediately with a proper striker’s finish from close range three minutes after Napoli’s opener. Angolan forward Zito Luvumbo beat Rrahmani on the left side before sending in a low cross across goal, which Pavoletti finished off, bundling it across goal in an unorthodox manner.
⏹️ Full time: #NapoliCagliari 2-1
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— Official SSC Napoli (@sscnapoli) December 16, 2023
The excitement of the game peaked once more as Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia combined to get Napoli back in front with the game’s third goal within six minutes. After some beautiful displays of skill and flair, Osimhen held off a number of Cagliari’s defenders inside their box before sending a low cross across goal for Kvaratskhelia to finish off in emphatic fashion.
The Partenopei held on for the win, breaking a streak of four home games without a win as they climb into the Champions League places and occupy the fourth spot in the standings.
