VICTOR Osimhen scored twice at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Saturday as Napoli continued their chase for the Serie A title.
The Super Eagles striker has now scored 11 goals in Serie A this season and 15 in all competitions to lead Napoli in scoring despite missing two months of action due to a facial injury and surgery.
Udinese took the lead through Gerard Deulofeu in the first half but Osimhen struck twice after the break to take Napoli level on 63 points with leaders AC Milan, who have a game in hand.
Saturday’s brace followed the pair of goals Osimhen scored in Napoli’s last match, another 2-1 win over Venezia last Sunday.
Osimhen has become the first-ever Nigerian to hit score at least 10 goals in two different Serie A seasons.
The Nigeria international will however miss Napoli’s crucial Serie A clash against Atalanta after the international break following the yellow card he was shown in added time for handball.
With Andrea Petagna out injured for circa a month, Dries Mertens is the only available striker to fill in for Osimhen.
The Nigeria international will however be available for the Super Eagles for the first time in 2022 after sitting out the Africa Cup of Nations in January due to a combination of injury and Covid-19.
He will lead Nigeria’s attack in the Qatar 2022 World Cup playoffs against neighbours and fierce rivals Ghana.
The first leg is scheduled for Kumasi on Friday, with the return leg in Abuja on Tuesday, 29 May.
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