Nigeria International Victor Osimhen was on the scoresheet as Napoli bounced back to winning ways following their 2-0 victory over Sampdoria in the Serie A on Sunday, Abbeylivenetwork.com reports.
The Parthenopeans had seen their unbeaten start to the season come to an end after they were beaten 1-0 by Inter Milan on January 4, 2023.
Osimhen scored Napoli’s first goal after displaying a striker’s instinct to get in the right place to poke home after 19 minutes.
The Nigeria international spotted Mario Rui on the ball and sprinted into the box, getting in between the two centre-backs, before connecting well with Rui’s perfectly timed pass to slot home his 10th league goal and 11th in all competitions.
In the 82nd minute, Elmas converted a spot kick to double the advantage after a handball in the area.
According to the statisticians at OPTA, Osimhen has become only the second African player to score ten or more goals in three different Serie A seasons, following in the footsteps of the legendary AC Milan striker and 1995 Ballon d’Or winner George Weah.
Weah netted 11 goals in his maiden season in the Serie A, 13 the following season and ten in the 1997-1998 campaign.
Osimhen also registered double-digits in three consecutive seasons, scoring 10 goals in 24 matches in 2020-2021, 14 in 27 matches last term and 10 in thirteen matches so far this season.
Osimhen’s performance suggested that he remains Napoli’s main man and the Azzurri will need him to stay in form and avoid injuries if they are to win their first Serie A title since 1990.
Napoli’s title credentials will come under test when they host Juventus in their next league match, with the Old Lady currently on form, after winning eight straight matches
