Osimhen bags player of the match in Napoli win at Braga

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Victor Osimhen was bagged Man of the Match after playing a pivotal role in Napoli‘s 2-1 victory over Sporting Braga in their opening Group C match of the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night.

Napoli shared a picture of Osimhen holding the Man of the Match award on their official X handle.

Although Osimhen didn’t find the net, his exceptional performance earned him high praise and contributed to the Serie A champions’ flawless start to the season.

Within the initial five minutes, Osimhen had a golden opportunity to break the deadlock as he seized on a wayward back-pass from Jose Fonte, only to shoot directly at the Braga goalkeeper.

The leading scorer of the previous Serie A season challenged the home team’s goalkeeper with a powerful header, which was skillfully saved.

Shortly after, Osimhen came agonizingly close to scoring with a formidable strike from the edge of the area, which thundered against the crossbar.

Throughout the first half, he continued to trouble the Braga defense. At one point, he believed he had earned Napoli a penalty, but after a VAR review, it was overturned.

Finally, Napoli broke the deadlock in the opening minute of added time in the first half. Osimhen expertly nodded down a cross from the left by Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, allowing Giovanni Di Lorenzo to smash it into the net on the volley, hitting the underside of the crossbar.

The Nigerian forward persistently posed a threat to the Braga defense before being substituted in the 90th minute.

Next on the agenda for Osimhen and his Napoli colleagues in the Champions League is a home fixture against Real Madrid.

In the current Italian league campaign, he has netted three goals in four appearances.

He received nominations for both The Best FIFA Men’s Player and the Ballon d’Or awards for 2023.

Furthermore, he emerged as the top scorer in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, netting an impressive 10 goals.