Victor Osimhen: Roberto Mancini Defends Kid Who Impersonated the Nigerian

Victor Osimhen: Roberto Mancini Defends Kid Who Impersonated the Nigerian

Ibitoye Shittu
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:26 PM
In this article:
Victor Osimhen logo
V. Osimhen
Napoli logoFNigeria logo
  • A young Napoli fan has been spotted wearing a mask and changing some of his features in an attempt to look like Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen
  • The photo has generated controversy on social media with some supporters tagging it as a racist post
  • However, Italy coach Roberto Mancini has come out to defend the young Napoli fan whose picture went viral

Roberto Mancini who is the gaffer of the Italian national team has defended the kid spotted on social media impersonating Napoli and Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen by painting himself black.

Mixed reactions have followed the photos of a young Napoli fan who was seen wearing Osimhen's shirt together with the same hairstyle and facial paining.

Sporting costumes were allowed in a carnival held in Italy in which kids were allowed to dress and impersonate their heroes.

Osimhen, Napoli, fan, Mancini
Victor Osimhen: Roberto Mancini defends kid who imitated the Nigerian. Photo by Ulrik Pedersen
Source: Getty Images

However, the young boy who imitated Osimhen got people talking with some tagging it to racism claiming that that should not have been allowed.

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Sabrina Efionayi who is a Nigerian writer is among those who are not pleased with the photo of the young Napoli fan.

She says:

“Every time a player with black skin excels in a team (in this case, Napoli), I always feel this tremendous angst over how people think he should be celebrated.
“Trust me, it is not celebrating him at all. It gives me goosebumps if you think it is showing solidarity, being amusing or supportive of the Nigerian player.”

According to the report on Punch, Mancini was not satisfied with the comment made by Efionayi.

Mancini's statement on it

“Where some see racism, I see only wonder. Sport is inclusion and you kids are giants.''

Osimhen breaks Messi's record

Earlier, Sports Brief had reported how Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen scored his 100th career goal thereby breaking a record held by the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Didier Drogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Osimhen is the hot cake now in the Serie A where the Napoli strongman has registered 18 League goals and 20 in all competitions with his club topping the table.

In the history of the Italian Serie A, no Nigerian has ever won the Golden Boot award, but Osimhen is now on the verge of breaking the record this season.

He was in brilliant form for Napoli on Friday, 17 February, netting the second goal in his side's 2-0 win over Sassuolo and that strike was his 100th.

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