The Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen was in action to help Napoli to a flying start to claim a deserving 2-1 away win in their 2023/24 UEFA Champions League Group C opener over Sporting Braga on Wednesday night, was also rewarded with the Player of the Match prize for his strong performance – a first of its kind for the Nigerian in the European elite competition.
The former LOSC Lille prolific striker who never fails to put up a good show to spur the Partenopei to victory in their opening game of the campaign against the Portuguese side, meanwhile, was yellow carded by the Dutch centre-referee for an unsportsmanlike conduct five minutes into the break before setting up a Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s crucial lead for the last season Serie A winners.
The 24-year-old marksman, however, was on the field of play until the 90th minute before he was substituted for Giovanni Simeone.
Bruma had put the host team back into the game six minutes before stoppage time, only for Sikou Niakate’s 88th-minute own goal to hand the Italian giants a needed win in the Wednesday night thriller that ended 2-1 in front of the 18,422 spectators at the Estádio Municipal de Braga.
With Napoli eyeing to bounce back from a two-winless Serie A runs to Lazio and Genoa, the in-form Osimhen is expected to continue with his brilliance away to Bologna on Sunday.