Osimhen opens UCL account as Napoli defeat Ajax to reach knockout stage
Victor Osimhen returned to action as Napoli thrashed Ajax 4-2 in their Group A fixture to scale through to the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League.
Osimhen found the back of the net with just 40 minutes of play as the Italian side walloped Calvin Bassey and his Ajax side on Wednesday night.
Following more than one month on the sideline due to injury, the Super Eagles forward returned to action after coming off the bench in the second half.
Hirving Lozano put Napoli ahead just four minutes into the encounter before Giacomo Raspadori doubled the lead twelve minutes later as the first half ended 2-nil in favour of the hosts.
Davy Klaassen pulled one back for Ajax in the early minutes of the second but Khvicha Kvaratskhelia continued with his impressive form this season and restored Napoli’s lead from the spot in the 62nd minute.
Once again Steven Bergwijn reduced the deficit for Ajax for the second time in the encounter from a penalty kick.
However Osimhen, who came on for Raspadori scored just six minutes before the final whistle to seal the victory for Napoli at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
The goal is Osimhen’s first goal in the competition after he was forced to withdraw in the opening match of the group against Liverpool due to injury last month.
The victory sent Napoli through to the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League – they’ve won all of their four matches in this year’s competition.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Politics
2027: Zamfara youths declare support for Tinubu’s re-election
Zamfara youths, under the City Boy Movement, have declared support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima in 2027.
NationWide
CIBN inducts 2,178 new bankers
The CIBN inducted 2,178 new chartered banking professionals.
NationWide
NDLEA, UAE’s NDEA sign MoU to deepen anti-narcotics cooperation
The MoU was signed on Saturday, on the sidelines of the ongoing 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Africa
Nigeria, Namibia partner on cross-border trade, investment
Namibia’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Walde Ndevashiya, said the initiative would provide a practical platform for connecting businesses.
Heading 2
Uba Sani to clear inherited debts as contractors hail governor
Mr Baba said the governor inherited huge liabilities but has demonstrated that government is a continuous process by taking steps to pay the contractors’ debts.
Heading 3
Nigeria’s debt has risen by N116.94 trillion under Tinubu while Nigerians drown in hardship: Atiku
“A government that says more money is coming in must explain why it keeps borrowing and why the people paying for its policies cannot see the promised gains,” Mr Abubakar said.
