Category: Sports

Osimhen’s meteoric rise had been synonymous with Napoli’s resurgence, culminating in the end of a 30-year Serie A title drought last season.

The 24-year-old striker played a pivotal role, carrying Napoli on his shoulders with crucial goals and record-breaking performances.

However, this once harmonious partnership has swiftly turned sour, casting Osimhen as an unexpected target of ridicule just five games into the new season.

Napoli’s official TikTok account has become a source of controversy, facing widespread criticism for posting videos mocking Osimhen and overtly disrespecting the Nigerian.

A particular video highlighting his missed penalty in a recent clash against Bologna became a focal point, leaving fans across the globe livid.

The club’s social media antics escalated, with another video mocking the striker and tagging a coconut, further intensifying the disdain.

Amidst the social media storm, Osimhen’s agent, Roberto Calenda, took a decisive stance. In a statement issued on Tuesday night via X, formerly known as Twitter, Calenda expressed his dismay, stating, “What happened today on Napoli’s official profile on the TikTok platform is not acceptable.”

He underscored the severe damage inflicted on Osimhen and the unjust treatment the player has endured in the face of media trials and fake news.

Calenda concluded the statement with a stern warning: “We reserve the right to take legal action and any useful initiative to protect Victor.”

The tension between Osimhen and Napoli extended beyond the digital realm, with on-field conflicts exacerbating the strained relationship.

During the goalless draw against Bologna, Osimhen was visibly upset, berating Napoli manager Rudi Garcia as he was substituted with mere minutes remaining.

Though he has since apologised for his outburst, many feel the last may not have been seen.

For now, Osimhen has deleted almost all Napoli pictures from his Instagram account and his next line of action is not known.

The frosty relationship between the player and the club traces back to the summer, marked by uncertainty over Osimhen’s contract extension.

Negotiations appeared promising, but Osimhen’s comments after Napoli’s opening Serie A game threw the situation into doubt.

Several clubs in the world including the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, and even big spenders in Saudi Arabia all want Osimhen in their ranks as he remains one of the most lethal strikers in the world presently.

His prowess shows why he has been nominated for both the Ballon d’Or and FIFA Best Player where he is the only African considered. The striker’s contract, set to expire in June 2025, now hangs in the balance, leaving fans and pundits alike on edge regarding the future of this once-thriving partnership.

As Napoli prepares to face Udinese on Wednesday night, all eyes will be on Osimhen, waiting to see if the off-field controversies will take a toll on him or whether he will even be considered for the game after all the drama in the last 48 hours.

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Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé lead the 12-player shortlist for FIFA’s The Best Men’s Player nominees, with England midfielder Declan Rice also nominated after captaining former club West Ham United to Europa Conference League success.

Argentina captain Messi, now playing for MLS side Inter Miami, is aiming to win the award for a record third time having been given the honour in 2019 and 2022.

But despite helping Argentina to World Cup glory at Qatar 2022, Messi faces stiff competition from Manchester City forward Haaland after the Norway international scored 52 goals as Pep Guardiola’s side completed a Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup treble last season.

Julián Álvarez, Marcelo Brozovic, Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gündogan, Rodri, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Victor Osimhen and Bernardo Silva make up the shortlist alongside Messi, Haaland, Mbappe and Rice.

Spain, who won the Women’s World Cup for the first time in Australia last month, have four players on the 12-name shortlist for women’s award with Aitana Bonmatí, Jenni Hermoso, Mapi León and Salma Paralluelo all in the race to succeed La Roja midfielder Alexia Putellas by winning the trophy.

Linda Caicedo, Rachel Daly, Kadidiatou Diani, Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Alex Greenwood, Amanda Ilestedt, Lauren James, Sam Kerr, Hinata Miyazawa and Keira Walsh are also nominated, with Lindsey Horan the only United States player making it onto the shortlist.

Voting for the eighth annual awards opened on Thursday on FIFA.com and closes in mid-October. National team coaches, captains, journalists and fans make up the list of voters.

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In an interview with journalists after the game, Amusan said it was quite “a journey getting into the final” despite all she had gone through in the last couple of weeks.

“It has been God, my team and my family,” the 2022 gold winner told reporters.
She thanked all her fans for supporting her through the ups and downs, promising that she will be back stronger.

Amusan hopes to get her “medal” back next year.

“Yeah, it’s a tough one; nobody likes to lose but considering what I have gone through in the past couple of months, I’m so grateful that I came out,” she enthused.

Williams, the 30-year-old, who previously won in Beijing in 2015, timed 12.43 seconds to edge out Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico (12.44sec) with Kendra Harrison of the United States taking bronze (12.46).

Amusan and 2019 winner Nia Ali were never in the hunt, finishing sixth and last respectively.

Amusan was cleared of doping violations with the provisional suspension on her lifted ahead of the championship.

Last month, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) provisionally suspended the Nigerian track and field athlete for three missed whereabouts failures.

The suspension was announced after it was discovered that Amusan had missed three drug tests within a 12-month period. This charge carried a two-year suspension term, even if an athlete has never failed a drug test.

Ultimately, the Disciplinary Tribunal announced the verdict which stated, “Tobi Amusan has not committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) of three Whereabouts Failures within a 12-month period”.

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In a message posted on X (formerly Twitter), the Athletics Integrity Unit, AIU said Amusan did not commit an anti-doping rule violation.

Amusan successfully secured the upturning of the provisional ban slammed on her by AIU for missing three whereabouts tests within 12 months.

The AIU had on 19 July announced Amusan’s provisional ban, but the athlete vowed to challenge the decision along with her legal team, having insisted she was clean and had nothing to hide.

It was gathered Amusan’s case was argued before the AIU panel on Wednesday. After an exhaustive session, the world record holder in the 100m hurdles event was able to prove her case.

A statement was issued yesterday night by the AIU,  reads in part: “A panel of the Disciplinary Tribunal, by majority decision, has today found that Tobi Amusan has not committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) of three Whereabouts Failures within 12 months.

“AIU Head Brett Clothier has indicated the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) is disappointed by this decision and will review the reasoning in detail before deciding whether to exercise its right of appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within the applicable deadline. The decision is currently confidential but will be published in due course.

“Amusan’s provisional suspension has now been lifted with immediate effect. ” the statement concluded.

This development means Amusan has the go-ahead to defend her world title at the World Athletics Championships billed for Budapest, Hungary, from 19-27 August.

Many had feared the worst following many days of silence from both the AIU and Amusan’s camp, but they was a great sense of relief after the decision from the AIU panel was made public on Thursday.

At last year’s World Championships in Eugene, Oregon Eugene, Amusan stunned fans and opponents alike when she broke the world record in the 100m hurdles semi-finals in a time that was the largest improvement for a world record in the event in 42 years.

She then ran a faster time in the final 90 minutes later, only for an illegal wind to make it illegible.

Interestingly, Amusan has suggested that it’s not impossible to break her 100m Hurdles World Record (WR) again.

In a post in June 2023 on the World Athletics Instagram page, where she was seen training and preparing for the Golden Spikes meet in Ostrava, Amusan declared she could still break her WR.

“I’m a big believer in the Bible; nothing is impossible, and 11 seconds? Most definitely,” it read.

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