Ex Napoli Star Unconvinced With Osimhen’s Victories: “He’ll Never Be a Champion”

• Rosario Rivellino does not think Victor Osimhen should be considered a champion
• The 24-year-old Nigerian forward led Napoli to the Scudetto last season
• Osimhen was recently voted as the 2023 Africa Player of the Year by CAF

Former Napoli player Rosario Rivellino has washed down Victor Osimhen’s recent achievements, days after the Nigerian attacker was crowned as the African Player of the Year for 2023.

Osimhen ended the Partenopei’s 33-year wait for the Serie A title after leading them to the crown last season, scoring 26 goals to emerge with the Pichichi award.

The Nigerian was also nominated for the Ballon d’Or and the Best FIFA Men's Player of the Year due to his achievements for the Naples club, but Rivellino is not convinced that the 24-year-old should be referred to as a champion, All Nigeria Soccer reports

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"He will also be able to score many goals, win not one but three Ballon d'Ors, but for me, he will never be a champion.

"I don't think he has the technical means to deserve such an important definition. For me, very few footballers in the world can be considered champions, and Victor Osimhen does not fall into that category."

Osimhen is set to extend his contract with Napoli for one more season with the Serie A champions set to make the Nigerian forward the highest-paid player in its history.

CAF award to motivate Super Eagles

Meanwhile, Victor Osimhen claims that winning the CAF African Footballer of The Year award will motivate him and the Super Eagles ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, The Punch reports.

The 24-year-old Nigerian forward pipped Moroccan full-back Achraf Hakimi and Egyptian striker Mohammed Salah to the prestigious CAF award following a phenomenal season with Napoli last term.

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Osimhen is the first Nigerian since Nwankwo Kanu to be crowned Africa’s best player since the former Arsenal star won the award in 1999.

Osimhen backs Nigeria for 2023 AFCON

Earlier, Sports Brief reported Victor Osimhen has declared that Nigeria is ready for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and is optimistic the Super Eagles will be one of the major contenders for the title in Ivory Coast.

The West African nation last won the tournament in 2013 when Steven Keshi led the team to its third continental title, but they have failed to make the final since then, exiting in the Round of 16 in the 2022 edition.

Osimhen, recently crowned as the 2023 Africa Player of the Year, is confident the Super Eagles are raring to go and have the capacity to defeat other top teams to the AFCON title.