Victor Osimhen - The African Mirror

Nigerian star scores as Napoli draws with Barcelona

NAPOLI fought back to hold visitors Barcelona to a dour 1-1 draw in their Champions League last-16 first leg on Wednesday as Victor Osimhen cancelled out Robert Lewandowski's opener. Last year's Spanish and Italian champions, both struggling this season, played out a poor match in which both sides were toothless and lacking attacking flair. Third in the LaLiga standings eight points behind leaders Real Madrid, Barcelona dominated the first half against a disorganised Napoli who barely managed to get out of their own half. "It is not a good result for the return leg," Barca manager Xavi Hernandez told Movistar…

Jan

2024

Napoli president confirms Osimhen set to leave, Mourinho not on their radar

NAPOLI president Aurelio De Laurentiis confirmed that Victor Osimhen will leave the club at the end of the season, while also ruling out that Jose Mourinho will come on board to coach the Serie A club. Nigerian international Osimhen, who is in Ivory Coast for the Africa Cup of Nations, told CBS Sports on Tuesday that he had "already made a decision about the next step in his career". "We knew about Osimhen since this summer. We knew perfectly well that he would go to Real Madrid, Paris St Germain or an English team," De Laurentiis told reporters at the…

Jan

2024

By MARK GLEESON

Eclectic cast rubbing shoulders with superstars at Cup of Nations

Stars like Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen are the headline acts at the Africa Cup of Nations but they rub shoulders at the tournament with journeymen who, for a fleeting week or two, get to enjoy an extraordinary opportunity. The African championship boasts an increasingly eclectic cast of characters, particularly in recent decades with the expansion of the tournament to 24 teams, with many countries searching for talent beyond their shores. It means a musician playing football in his spare time was among the more than 600 footballers at the tournament in the Ivory Coast, along with a…

Jan

2024

By MARK GLEESON

Nigeria upset hosts at Cup of Nations

NIGERIA handed Africa Cup of Nations hosts Ivory Coast a 1-0 defeat in their Group A clash at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium on Thursday with a second-half penalty settling the encounter. Captain William Troost-Ekong struck home the 55th-minute spot kick after a VAR review showed that young Ivorian defender Ousmane Diomande had impeded Victor Osimhen. The result means Nigeria moved above the Ivorians in the standings by four points along with Equatorial Guinea, who beat Guinea Bissau 4-2 earlier. The hosts have three. The clash of the West African heavyweights was a largely languid affair, dominated by physical battles and…

Jan

2024

Osimhen on target but Nigeria held 1-1 by Equatorial Guinea

VICTOR Osimhen scored a first-half equaliser but wasteful Nigeria was held to a 1-1 draw in their Africa Cup of Nations Group A opener with Equatorial Guinea in a steamy Abidjan, unable to turn their pressure into three points. Iban Salvador netted a surprise opener for Equatorial Guinea against the run of play with a well-worked goal, but the lead lasted only two minutes before Napoli forward Osimhen headed Nigeria level. The West African side dominated the chances after that but found Equatorial Guinea goalkeeper Jesus Owono in fine form as he made several outstanding saves, to go with some…

Jan

2024

Profile of Nigeria team for 2023 Africa Cup of Nations

FACTBOX on Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers Nigeria. Africa Cup of Nations record: Previous appearances in finals: (19) 1963, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2019, 2021 Best performance: Winners 1980, 1994, 2013Drawn in Group A with Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau and Ivory Coast. Coach: Jose PeserioIt has not been a happy time for the 63-year-old Portuguese technician since he took over at the helm of the Super Eagles in May 2022, with reports of late payment of his salary and constant criticism from supporters, especially since they lost to…

Dec

2023

Osimhen back on target as Napoli beat Cagliari to go fourth

VICTOR Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored in the second half as Napoli eventually broke down Cagliari 2-1 at home in Serie A and moved provisionally up to fourth in the standings. Champions Napoli, who have struggled at home this season having gained just one point in their previous four league games at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, rose two places to fourth on 27 points from 16 games. They are 11 points behind leaders Inter Milan and two above fifth-placed AS Roma, who visit Lazio and Bologna respectively on Sunday. "It was a very important victory for us, we needed…

Dec

2023

Nigeria striker Osimhen crowned African Footballer of the Year

NIGERIA striker Victor Osimhen has been named African Footballer of the Year after beating Mohamed Salah to the award at a ceremony in Marrakech, with compatriot Asisat Oshoala winning the top prize in the women’s category. Osimhen, 24, scored 26 goals as he helped Napoli to a surprise triumph in Serie A last season and was the leading marksman in Italy’s top division. Egypt's Liverpool forward Salah and Morocco's Paris St Germain right-back Achraf Hakimi were the other two final nominees but Osimhen claimed the prize to become the first Nigerian winner since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999. "It is a…

Nov

2023

Napoli’s Osimhen still in doubt for Champions League, says Mazzarri