Osimhen scores first Napoli goal, supports anti-police brutality campaign

NIGERIA striker Victor Osimhen scored his first league goal in Italy on Saturday, helping Napoli to a 4-1 Serie A win over Atalanta in Naples.

Osimhen rounded off his side’s scoring after goals from Hirving Lozano and Matteo Politano had given them a commanding lead.

Sam Lammers scored a late consolation goal for the visitors.

With Osimhen leading the line in a 4-2-3-1 formation, Napoli took the lead in the 23rd minute through Lozano.

Just four minutes later, Napoli were 2-0, Mexico forward Lozano on target again.

Politano made it 3-0 soon after, the Italian netting in the 30th minute as Gennaro Gattuso’s side completely dominated the normally vibrant Atalanta.

Osimhen, who was making his third appearance for Napoli, finally got on the scoresheet in the 43rd minute for his first official goal for the club he joined in August for €80m from Lille.

In celebrating his goal, Osimhen held up a white T-shirt with the inscription ‘#EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeria’, adding his voice to the ongoing protests against rogue police officers in his motherland.

Napoli took a comfortable 4-0 lead into the break and just saw the game through in the second half.

Atalanta got on the scoresheet in the 69th minute through Lammers but Gian Piero Gasperini’s entertainers were well and truly beaten.

With the win, Napoli moved up to third place in Serie A with eight points from four games despite having to forfeit three points to Juventus for breaching COVID-19 protocol.

Atalanta are second with nine points.
Osimhen had missed the Super Eagles’ friendly matches with Algeria and Tunisia due to travel restrictions after his teammates tested positive for the virus.