- Napoli posts a video trolling Osimhen.
- Osimhen Nigerian fans and compatriots react, says it’s disrespectful.
Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen missed a penalty in Napoli’s last game, a 0-0 draw against Bologna. The club’s TikTok account posted a video trolling Osimhen for the miss, which drew criticism from Nigerian fans and players alike.
One fan, Gideon Ekong, wrote, “It was only a matter of time before Napoli Fans turned on Osimhen. As a black player in Italy, you can’t have a bad day. One mistake and the darkness will come forward. Racism will always be part of Italian Football, shed your blood for their badge if you want.”
Another fan, Cornel Uchenna, said, “Napoli is a classless club. Taking down the video is not enough. The person(s) running that TikTok account should be fired and a public apology to Victor Osimhen. This is subtle racism. Very despicable. Tueh!”
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Osimhen has since deleted all Napoli-related posts from his Instagram page. Napoli captain, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, also faulted Osimhen for overreacting after being substituted in the game.
Osimhen has since apologized to his teammates and coach. Sports journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed the apology in a tweet, saying, “More on Victor Osimhen. His message to the Napoli squad today was positive — and it was to react after the draw. Osimhen always wants to win games — that’s why he spoke to Garcia after being subbed off vs Bologna. Positive, strong message to the team as leader once again.”
It is important to note that not all Napoli fans are racist. Many fans have come out to support Osimhen and condemn the club’s TikTok account. However, the incident has highlighted the problem of racism in Italian football.