Ex Nigeria Star Says Victor Osimhen is Not Responsible for Napoli’s UCL Exit

• Napoli’s Champions League exit has not gone down well with their fans
• Victor Osimhen has received some sticks after the loss to Barcelona
• Dosu Joseph has defended the Nigerian after recent backlash

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Dosu Joseph has leaped to the defense of Victor Osimhen following his recent backlash suffered by the Nigerian after Napoli’s ouster from the UEFA Champions League.

Italian legends Fabio Capello and Arigo Sacchi had called out the 25-year-old forward after he had a sub-par performance in the 3-1 defeat away to Barcelona in the Round of 16 second leg in Spain.

According to Complete Sports, Dosu stated that Osimhen gave his best against the Catalans and that the striker should not be blamed for Napoli’s exit from Europe’s top football club competition.

“I really don’t think Osimhen should be blamed for Napoli’s exit from the Champions League.

Victor Osimhen: The hilarious moment Super Eagles star attempts to mend net vs Sassuolo

Football

“This is football and its a team game where everybody should have pushed very hard to ensure they get the positive result. The fact that Osimhen didn’t score does not mean that he should be held responsible for their defeat against Barca.”

Osimhen had scored in the first-leg when both teams played 1-1 at the Diego Maradona stadium but Napoli were bundled out of the UCL after an aggregate 4-2 loss to Barcelona.

Sacchi tears into struggling Osimhen

Meanwhile, former Italy head coach, Sacchi, did not hold back in his criticism of Osimhen's poor display against Barcelona, stating it was easy for his opponents to stop him, Pulse Sports reports.

Sacchi highlighted the Nigerian and Napoli teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as the biggest culprits in the defeat to Xavi’s men as they were below their usual best in the club’s biggest game of the season.

Victor Osimhen; Nigeria striker hailed as the solution to Napoli's problems

Football

Despite scoring five goals since his return from the Africa Cup of Nations, the Nigerian striker has faced criticisms this season as Napoli’s chance of winning any major trophy eclipsed with their elimination from the Champions League.

Osimhen matches Maradona’s Napoli record

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Osimhen’s hat-trick against Sassuolo on Wednesday, February 28, saw the Nigerian attacker equal the record of legendary Diego Maradona at Napoli.

The 25-year-old superstar scored two of his three goals in the first half, before securing his second treble for Napoli in the 6-1 routing of Sassuolo in front of their fans.

With his hat-trick, Osimhen has 11 goals in Serie A, joining club legends Maradona and Sallustro as the only players to score at least ten goals in four consecutive seasons.