Osimhen on brink of helping Napoli win first Serie A title in 33 years

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By Johnny Edward.

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen is on the cusp of leading Serie A leaders, Napoli, to their first Scudetto title in 33 years if they are able to record a win in the Campanian derby against Salernitana on Sunday (today) and second-placed Lazio fails to win against Inter Milan at the San Siro, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

If the results indeed goes Napoli’s way, it will be Osimhen’s first ever league title in Europe and he will be the second Nigerian to win the Serie A title, after Obafemi Martins lifted the Scudetto with Inter Milan during the 2005/2006 season.

Speaking ahead of the game, the Serie A topscorer is already relishing celebrating the Serie A title with Napoli fans.

“We are all happy and giving our best to make our dream come true,” Osimhen told TG5.

“We are close to the objective and can’t wait for that dream to become reality. Naples is extraordinary, and so passionate. I have never received so much love and I can’t wait to celebrate the title with them in the stadium and in the streets.”

Victory on Sunday would move Luciano Spalletti’s side to 81 points and they will become the first team to win the title with six matches remaining unless Lazio earn their first win away to Inter in more than four years on the same day.

However, Spalletti has urged his players not to get ahead of themselves despite being tantalisingly close to ending the city’s 33-year wait for the Serie A title since Diego Maradona led the team to two championships in 1987 and 1990.

“I don’t like to celebrate in advance,” he said. “If we all do it together there will be twice as much joy.”
It would be unthinkable for Napoli to blow their 17-point lead at this stage but Spalletti’s caution is understandable given a tough April in which his team managed two wins in six games in all competitions.

Osimhen has enjoyed a magnificent season with Napoli and has been instrumental in their campaign as the 24-year-old has hit 26 goals in 32 appearances, emerging as one of Europe’s most sought after strikers.