Napoli Release Statement as Nigerian Striker Victor Osimhen Returned Late After International Break

• Victor Osimhen has returned to Italy to join his Napoli teammates and the club has expressed delight over his return
• A club statement says that the youngster will neither be punished nor fined for returning late from the international break
• Osimhen was suspended for Sunday’s game and his teammates did well to defeat Atalanta 3-1 away from home

Italian giants Napoli will not punish Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen after the player returned late following the international break, Football Italia reports.

Osimhen was part of the Super Eagles squad that failed to qualify for the World Cup as the Black Stars edged Nigeria on aggregates.

Nigeria and Ghana played a goalless draw in Kumasi and then the reverse fixture in Abuja ended 1-1 to see the Black Stars through to Qatar on the away goals rule.

It was gathered that Osimhen was allowed to take some time off before returning to Italy, but some sections in the media had claimed the youngster will be punished.

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But Napoli have confirmed that the forward, who was suspended for Sunday’s game, arrived back in Italy.

The club statement reads as per DAZN:

“We don’t understand why there is controversy around this, because he was given permission to take time off after international duty and he arrived on schedule.

“He is an extraordinary lad, a great professional, so the question ought to be why these things emerge in the media. Of course there won’t be a fine, he was given permission.”

Amokachi hails Osimhen

Meanwhile, former Super Eagles star Daniel Amokachi has singled out Victor Osimhen as the only player who worked tirelessly against Ghana to ensure Nigeria qualified for the 2022 World Cup.

According to him, Osimhen knows what it means to represent Nigeria at the World Cup, something some players born abroad in the current Super Eagles team don't understand.

Amokachi noted that Osimhen knows what it takes to play for Nigeria because he once hawked pure water on Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.

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Osimhen speaks following World Cup miss

Sports Brief earlier reported that Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen has lamented Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Napoli forward Victor Osimhen who was in the thick of the action during the encounter on Tuesday night was left disappointed over his side’s failure to pick the ticket.

The disappointing result also led to fans invading the stadium and vandalising some sections of the field as well as destroying the glass in the technical area.