Victor Osimhen, a Nigerian international, intends to keep up his goal-scoring pace after hitting a hat-trick for Napoli in their 4-0 Serie A victory over Sassuolo.
Napoli increased their advantage at the top of the standings on Saturday thanks to the 23-year-brilliantly old’s executed treble.
He netted two goals in the opening 19 minutes, added his third 13 minutes from time, and now has seven league goals for the season, sharing the league lead for the Golden Boot with Marko Arnautovic of Austria.
“That was my first professional hat-trick so I’m really excited about it,” Osimhen told BBC Sport Africa.
“It’s been a great return after a few challenges at the start of the season and hopefully I can continue this form.
“As a striker you always want to help your team so I want to stay hungry for more.”
Osimhen missed more than a month of action due to a thigh injury, but since his comeback, he has six goals in his last four games across all competitions.
He joins Liberian George Weah (for AC Milan in 1998), Cameroonian Patrick Mboma (for Cagliari in 1999), Egyptian Mohamed Salah (for AS Roma in 2016), and Senegal’s Keita Balde (Lazio in 2017) as the fifth African to score a hat-trick in Italian Serie A.
Osimhen, a former forward for Lille and Wolfsburg as well as Charleroi, relocated to Italy two years ago. Following two “learning seasons,” the Super Eagles hero is now helping Napoli win its first league championship in 33 years.
“No-one knows it all. I continue to grow and learn,” he added.
Tuesday marks Napoli’s return to action as they travel to Liverpool for their last Group A Champions League match (20:00 GMT). Both teams have already secured a spot in the round of 16.
After 12 games, Luciano Spalletti’s Napoli have a five-point lead at the top of Serie A thanks to Osimhen’s excellent play.
The club has now won 13 games in a row across all competitions, breaking the previous mark of 11, which was held by Diego Maradona’s team in 1986–87, the year in which the icon of Argentina’s national team led Napoli to their first-ever league title.
“I would like to congratulate all of my team-mates. They’re top players and the whole squad is blessed with quality,” Osimhen told the club website.
“I’d also like to thank the coach for the faith he’s shown in me and I’m keen to keep this up, both individually and collectively.
“Every time I score I dedicate my goal to my daughter. This hat-trick is for her.”
Osimhen scored four goals in June as Nigeria defeated Sao Tome and Principe 10-0 to advance to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
He won the Under-17 World Cup in 2015 with the West Africans, and with five goals, he leads all scorers in the 2023 Nations Cup qualifying. (BBC)
