Five players of Nigerian descent made the matchday squad as the Serie A highflying trade tackles with the English Premier League campaigners
Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen was on the scoresheet as Napoli ran out 3-1 winners over Crystal Palace in a club friendly at the Regnum Carya Golf & Spa Resort in Belek, Turkey, on Sunday afternoon.
Napoli built their attack around Osimhen for the encounter, while Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira handed starts to NFF targets Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise in a front three that also had Wilfred Zaha. Youngsters Omotayo Adaramola and Malcolm Ebiowei watched on from the bench.
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It was Ivoirian forward Zaha who, however, drew the first blood, beating Napoli’s goalkeeper Alex Meret with a crisp finish in the 33rd minute.
Napoli’s response came only two minutes later off the foot of Osimhen.
The Nigerian striker produced a fantastic goal, finishing expertly into the far corner from a tight angle.
Head coach Luciano Spalletti substituted Osimhen at halftime but Italian ace Giacomo Raspadori put Napoli ahead for the first time in the match in the 63rd minute.
Moments later, Adaramola came in for Milivojevic just before Ebere Eze received a yellow card for an awkward tackle.
Super Eagles hopeful Ebiowei entered the fray in the 80th minute but he was only on the pitch for barely a minute before Raspadori netted his second of the match to seal a convincing Napoli win.
The Crystal Palace friendly is Napoli’s last official match of 2022 as the Neapolitans begin a three-week break before returning for the second half of the league campaign.
Napoli’s first game of 2023 is a crunch Serie A clash against Inter Milan on January 4th.
