News

No Osimhen, more problem: Napoli thirst for victory as Ebuehi’s Empoli grab all points at Maradona Stadium

Super Eagles forward, Victor Osimhen, has been on the sideline since picking up an injury during Nigeria’s international friendly tie against Saudi Arabia

Napoli records another setback as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Empoli at the Diego Maradona Stadium, further highlighting the impact of Victor Osimhen’s absence, Soccernet.ng reports.

Hosting Empoli, Gli Azzurri faced a toothless draw for 90 minutes until a late pass from Super Eagles right back, Tyrone Ebuehi, was seized upon by Viktor Kovalenko, securing the victory for the away team.

Osimhen, sidelined due to an injury sustained during international duty with Nigeria against Saudi Arabia, left a noticeable void in Napoli’s attack.

In his absence, the team has secured only three victories out of six fixtures, including wins against Verona, the first leg of the UEFA Champions League against Union Berlin, and and an away victory Salernitana.

Contrasting with their Serie A title triumph in the 2022-23 season, Napoli currently occupies the fourth position in the Serie A standings, signaling a challenging season ahead.

Osimhen has been actively participating in training sessions, aiming to regain form, and reports from Italy suggest his anticipated return to Rudi Garcia’s squad after the international break in November.

Also, the Nigerian goal poacher will not feature for the Super Eagles against Lesotho and Zimbabwe in their 2026 FIFA World qualifiers. But, Jose Peseiro has called upon some trusted forwards to fill his void in the national team.

Ayomide Oguntimehin

Ayomide Oguntimehin is a CAF-accredited sports journalist and an Editor at Soccernet.ng, with a proven track record in conducting interviews with Super Eagles stars such as William Troost-Ekong, Taiwo Awoniyi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Ademola Lookman, and many others. He has also made a significant impact in breaking transfer news stories. Grounded in video editing, video journalism, social media management, and content strategy, Ayomide brings a wealth of expertise to his work. With a Bachelor's degree in English Language from Adeyemi College of Education and a Master's Degree in School Library and Media Technology from the University of Ibadan, Ayomide is well-prepared to excel in the field.

View Comments

Share
Published by
Ayomide Oguntimehin

Recent Posts

“We’re really close friends” – Tottenham Hotspur’s Dominic Solanke names former teammate as his favourite Nigerian footballer

Tottenham Hotspur and England forward, Dominic Solanke has named Atalanta winger, Ademola Lookman as his… Read More

10 minutes ago

“I don’t understand why they are selecting games” – Obafemi slams Super Eagles stars after Rwanda loss

Atalanta 1996 Olympic gold medalist Abiodun Obafemi has voiced his frustration with the lack of… Read More

2 hours ago

Nigerians abroad: Harry Kane leads Bayern Munich past Onyeka’s Augsburg; Okonkwo, Nkama, Godwin shine

Action returns across the top leagues in Europe and Asia as the November international break… Read More

2 hours ago

Report: Trabzonspor revive interest in Nigerian forward amid Besiktas and Genk links

Turkish Super Lig side Trabzonspor have reignited their pursuit of Paul Onuachu, seeking to secure… Read More

4 hours ago

Nigeria: Edo Queens miss out on bronze as FC Masar prevail in CAF Champions League shootout

Edo Queens’ hopes of a podium finish at the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League ended… Read More

4 hours ago

WAFCON 2024: Super Falcons drawn with Tunisia, Algeria, and Botswana in Group B

Nigeria have been placed in Group B for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations… Read More

5 hours ago