Napoli faces criticism from Nigerian fans over their treatment of star player Victor Osimhen.
The Italian football club, Napoli, is once again under scrutiny by football enthusiasts from Nigeria.
Social media users, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), are expressing discontent with Napoli’s failure to acknowledge the stellar performances of Victor Osimhen, their key striker.
Victor Osimhen, along with the Super Eagles, has showcased remarkable performances in the ongoing continental tournament in Ivory Coast, securing a spot in the Semi-finals.
The controversy traces back to September last year when Victor Osimhen missed a penalty during Napoli’s goalless draw with Bologna.
Napoli’s official TikTok account exacerbated the situation by mocking Osimhen on social media for his penalty miss, which elicited a negative response from the Nigerian player. In protest, Osimhen removed all images of himself in a Napoli shirt from his Instagram account.
Nevertheless, Napoli later issued an apology, with the club President clarifying that there was no intention to offend Osimhen.
Despite Osimhen signing a new contract at the Diego Amando Maradona stadium, Napoli subsequently announced his departure in the summer.
During the AFCON in Ivory Coast, numerous clubs, including those in the English Premier League, voiced support for their players participating in the competition.
However, Nigerian fans observed Napoli’s conspicuous absence in celebrating Victor Osimhen’s achievements on social media.
While Osimhen has scored only once in Nigeria’s opening game against Equatorial Guinea, his performance has been formidable, contributing significantly to the Super Eagles’ success.
The once harmonious relationship between Victor Osimhen and Napoli seems to be deteriorating, marking an unexpected turn of events for a player who brought considerable joy to Naples.
As of now, Napoli FC has not responded to the criticisms circulating on social media platforms.
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