Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen got the highest rating among Napoli players, in their 3-2 home loss to Real Madrid in Tuesday night’s UEFA Champions League Group C fixture.

The rating was done by popular Italian football publication, Football Italia.

Osimhen featured for 90 minutes and was a handful for the Spanish giants, as Napoli suffered their first defeat in this season’s competition.

Despite the defeat, Osimhen was rated seven out of 10, the highest rating gotten by a Napoli player on the night.

Commenting on Osimhen’s performance, Football Italia wrote:”Could have scored the equaliser with a header before the break, earned a penalty kick and kept Madrid defenders busy.”

Napoli took the lead in the 19th minute as Kepa Arrizabalaga was all at sea on the Kvicha Kvaratskhelia cross, Natan saw his looping header bounce off the top of the crossbar and Leo Ostigard was ready to nod in the rebound. 

In the 27th minute Madrid equalised that is to Jude Bellingham, who intercepted a square Giovanni Di Lorenzo pass and set up Vinicius to stroke home with the inside of the boot.

Bellingham our Madrid 2-1 ahead in the 34th minute as he sensational went past Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa and Ostigard for the delicate finish.

Napoli were awarded a penalty after Nacho was adjudged to have handled the ball while attempting to block an effort from Osimhen.

After a very long VAR review, the referee decided to award a penalty which Piotr Zielinski scored off the inside of the upright to make it 2-2 on 54 minutes.

But in the 78 minute Madrid got their third goal off a ferocious Federico Valverde strike from a huge distance.

The Uruguayan striker came off the crossbar, ricocheted onto the back of Napoli keeper’s head and into the net.

Napoli striker Victor Osimhen’s love for his club is unwavering, the Nigeria international said on Sunday to end a row over mocking videos the club posted on social media.

The Serie A champions came under fire after posting a video on TikTok with a high-pitched voice showing Osimhen missing a penalty in a 0-0 draw against Bologna last week.

The club said on Thursday they never intended to offend their striker, but stopped short of apologising to him.

“Coming to the city of Naples in 2020 was a wonderful decision for me,” said Osimhen on his Instagram account.

“The people of Naples have shown me so much love and kindness, and I will not allow anyone to come between us.

“The passion of the people of Naples fuels my fire to always play with my heart and soul, and the love for the badge is unwavering as I wear it with pride.

“I have a lot of friends who are Neapolitans and have become part of my family and everyday life… Let’s continue to spread unity, respect and understanding. Forza Napoli Sempre.”

Osimhen’s agent Roberto Calenda threatened legal action for the video, which was later deleted, while the 24-year-old player removed all images of himself in a Napoli shirt from his social media accounts.

Despite the row, Osimhen played and scored in Napoli’s wins over Udinese on Wednesday and Lecce on Saturday to take his tally to five goals in seven league games this season.

Osimhen joined Napoli in 2020 for a record 81.3 million euros ($85.8 million) and was key to end the club’s 33-year wait for a league title last season as he was Serie A’s top scorer with 26 goals.

Napoli are third in the league standings and will host Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The Super Eagles will welcome back key players, including Kenneth Omeruo, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Alex Iwobi, and Terem Moffi as they prepare for double-header international friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique in Portugal later this month.

According to a statement by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), yesterday, Head Coach Jose Santos Peseiro has made strategic selections, aiming to fine tune his squad ahead of the crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.

The quartet of Omeruo, Osayi-Samuel, Iwobi, and Moffi missed out in the team’s victory against Sao Tome and Principe during last month’s 2023 AFCON qualifier in Uyo.

It is widely seen that their return injects experience and dynamism into the squad, a move that Peseiro hopes will further solidify the team’s cohesion.

The Portuguese is also keeping faith in goalkeepers Francis Uzoho, Adebayo Adeleye, and Olorunleke Ojo, while uncapped defender Jordan Torunnarigha gets a chance to make his mark.

The upcoming friendly matches against Saudi Arabia’s Green Falcons and Mozambique’s Mambas are scheduled for October 13 and 16 respectively, in Portimão, Portugal.

Former Super Eagles captain, Austin Jay Jay Okocha has revealed why Nigeria winger, Samuel Chukwueze, is struggling with the Italian Serie A giant, AC Milan.

The skillful winger has been having it difficult to secure regular playing time with the Serie A giant since his arrival from the Spanish side Villarreal this summer.

Okocha said Chukwueze has been faced with a lot of challenges, including how he can adjust.

The former Bolton Wonderers midfielder believes Chukwueze would get better when he finally adjusted to the system and language.

“Language is always important because it is always good to be able to communicate but his talent is never in doubt,” Okocha told Livescore.

“I think Chukwueze is a great addition to the Milan team and I have no doubt that he will do well.”

Chukwueze is expected to be in action today when Milan host the German Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund in the match day 2 of the UEFA Champions League

Nigerian defender, Ola Aina, has been voted as Nottingham Forest’s Player of The Month for September, the club announced on Tuesday.

According to the club, Aina received 40 per cent of the total votes cast by fans.

He succeeds compatriot, Taiwo Awoniyi, who won the award in August.

In the month under review, Aina featured three times for the Tricky Trees when they beat Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge followed by a 1-1 draw at the City Ground against Burnley and a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City.

The 26-year-old has made a positive impression since joining Forest on a free transfer following his departure from Torino, featuring five times in the current Premier League campaign.

Capable of playing on either flank, the versatile full-back has operated on both the left and right side of defence so far this season, producing a string of solid displays.

In a recent interview with the club’s website, Aina said he was enjoying life at the City Ground.

“It’s been fun. I’ve enjoyed every bit of it so far. The staff, the players, the city itself, it’s been really good to me so far and long may it continue.

“I was the first to arrive this summer and it was fun, I had Taiwo and Emmanuel Dennis here, who I know from Nigeria, I knew Morgan and Harry Toffolo too, so it was smooth sailing.”

Aina was left out of their last game against Brentford on Sunday but will hope to return for their trip to Crystal Palace Saturday.

Nottingham Forest, with seven points, sit 12th on the EPL table with eight points from seven games.

Former world heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, has been warned against stepping into the ring against Deontay Wilder by Hall of Fame fighter Barry McGuigan.

Joshua versus Wilder is one of the most intriguing match-ups in boxing.

The two heavyweights seem to have finally agreed that it’s the right time to face off after they both lost their titles and can no longer make a unification bout.

Speaking to Boxing King Media, former featherweight champion McGuigan said it was good that the fight had been delayed considering the threat for Joshua.

“It’s disappointing, but if I’m managing Anthony Joshua I wouldn’t go near Wilder. Wilder has got tremendous power. I know he’s vulnerable and he’s been stopped and all of that sort of stuff by Fury, he has the sort of punch that he can hit you from the back of the room and knock your head off.

“Why would you take the risk of that? I don’t think it’s a bad idea to avoid it, certainly at this stage. If I were him I’d want to win the world title again, so either fight Fury or fight Usyk again,” he said.

Promoter Eddie Hearn tells Boxing Social that the hard-hitting American is still very much the target for his charge, even despite the task of now finding a new site. He is also still open to Joshua fighting this December against a new opponent if the fight can’t be finalised soon.

As for Wilder, it looks like he’ll remain inactive until he gets his hands on Joshua. Talks of a fight with Andy Ruiz Jr has fallen apart due to a dispute on the earnings for Ruiz.

Super Falcons and Houston Dash player Michelle Alozie has been named Player of the Week in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in the US.

Alozie was announced as the winner on the NWSL X handle.

The right-back beat three other nominees for the award thanks to her superb performance in Houston Dash’s 2-0 win at Gotham FC at the weekend.

The three other shortlisted players are Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Casey Krueger (Chicago Red Stars) and Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave).

In a poll that was conducted, Alozie got 58.9% while Rodman, Krueger and Shaw had 23.1%, 9.1% and 8.9% respectively.

Alozie returned to action for Houston Dash after serving a one-match suspension and scored two goals in the 2-0 win against Gotham FC.

For her five-star display in helping her team win, Alozie was named Player of the Match.

She has now scored four goals in 15 appearances in the NWSL this season.