Victor Osimhen will become the 35th Nigerian player to ply his trade in the Italian Serie A after the attacker completed his move from LOSC Lille of France to Napoli, Completesports.com reports.
The striker was a summer target for Arsenal and Chelsea, among a host of other Premier League clubs, but it was Gennaro Gattuso’s Napoli that won the race to sign him.
The 21-year-old was in stellar form for the Ligue 1, with the forward scoring 13 goals in 25 appearances as Lille finished the 2019-20 season in fourth place.
Osimhen only signed for the French Ligue 1 club last year from Sporting Charleroi after impressing on loan at the Belgian First Division A side in the 2018-19 season.
However, before Osimhen, there were as many as 34 Nigerians who have represented various clubs in the Serie A with Sunday Oliseh being the first ever from the country to play in Italy.
The Italian first division has been home to some of Nigeria’s finest talents, also including Taribo West, Obafemi Martins, Ogenyi Onazi, but Oliseh remains the trailblazer.
Oliseh excelled at the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations which in turn helped him seal a move to Reggiana, becoming the first Nigeria international to feature in Serie A.
He spent just a year at Reggiana before heading to the German Bundesliga with FC Cologne. He later returned to Italy in 1999 to join Juventus under coach Carlo Ancelotti.
By Oluyemi Ogunseyin
26 Comments
Can this one no be news abeg what does this represent
Umm…. first Nigerian to play in Italy was Samuel Okwaraji.
He played for AS Roma from 1984-1985.
Thank you bro for correcting him,I was going to make the correction until I saw your post.
The people that act as reporters in our country are always misinforming our people. This is really sad.
Please read the report correctly,They never said Oliseh was the first to play in italian league. They said he was the first to play in serie A. Okwaraji never played for the senior team of AS Roma.
@ Ade.. I think you’re wrong and you should indeed read the post again as the post implies there were as many as 34 Nigerians who have represented various clubs in the Serie A with Sunday Oliseh being the first ever from the country to play in Italy
The post states ” Sunday Oliseh being the first ever from the country to play in Italy ”
The post did not say Serie A but Italy generally . Nevertheless the first Nigerian to play in Italy was Samuel Okwaraji.
He played for AS Roma from 1984-1985.
God bless Nigeria
Well, you right on that, my mistake. But okwaraji never played for the senior team of roma.
https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/as-roma/1985/2/
Hahahaha…simple english oversabi nor fit read. Na to argue blindly and aimlessly up and down…LMAO. Who cares if it is Senior team or Junior team or cadet team or intermediate team….the crux of the matter is that Okwaraji was the 1st Nigerian professional footballer to PLAY IN ITALY and he played at AS ROMA….QED. LMAO
Hmmmm, Mr talkative, abeg go and sleep, there is no proof he even played for the youth team self.
Hahahaha…continue disgracing yourself na. Continue with your blind arguments ….LMAO.
Ogbeni go and sleep, don’t need to waste time, before you come up with another lie, that you saw him play at roma
Hahahahaha….CSN forum knows the lair here….LMAO. You are the one claiming he was not the 1st Nigerian to play in Italy. Its still the same you who is claiming “…there is no proof he even played for the youth team self…”. Continue looking for proof ehn…infact you can check inside your cooking pot….LMAO. Or better still go and ask Odegbami.
Olodo wey dey form sabi…..dont worry you will find proofs wen you clock 95 yrs of age….LMAO
It is you we should be wary of before you will come back after you have been busted to lie to us that “…actually i knew he played for AS Roma youth team, its just that I’m not a fan of players who play for youth teams…” LMAO
Ogbeni, am not one of those morons who are awaiting the lies you want to share. So bros, you can have the last word. Okwaraji never played for AS Roma. Maybe na your backyard AS roma CSN is referring to
@Ade ….. Okwaraji had a career in Europe which included playing for AS Roma (1984-1985), NK Dinamo Zagreb (1985-1986), Austria Klagenfurt (1986-1987), VfB Stuttgart (1987-1989) , SSV Ulm 1846 (loan) (1987-1988) , Kon.Berchem Sport (BEL) ( 1989 )
Yes your claim are true and right as okwaraji never played for the senior team of Roma BUT he did play for their Youth team .
God Bless Nigeria
Bros am not disputing he ever played in europe. I want to believe CSN wanted to say oliseh was first nigerian to feature in series A and not in Italian league.
Hahahaha….You are indeed not a moron….lmao. You that knows more the ESPN, Wikipedia and CSN tell us which AS Roma Okwaraji signed for in the 1984/85 season..LMAO…Onukwu..!!!
@NA ME TALK AM.
Leave him….let him continue his blind and directionless arguement…. that’s his trademark…LMAO
Okwaraji was the first Nigerian footballer to play in Italy and he played for AS ROMA. QED.
We don’t care if he didn’t make it to the 1st team and ended up in their B team or C team or Z team. Anybody wey e pain make e go create in own website….LMAO
Mutiu Adepoju and Samuel Etoo both played mostly in Real Madrid Castilla yet history remembers them till today as former Real Madrid players. Infact Adepoju has even featured in a couple of Real Madrid legends novelty matches.
Whoever wants to rewrite the history of how he was conceived should carry on.
At least there is proof they bothe featured for real Madrid with number of games and goals scored. So don’t get the comparison. Like i said am not one of those who go by the lies you feed forumites. Please show us how many games okwaraji played for AS roma.
Hahahahaha…you are the fat lair here..LMAO. Even the Whole CSN knows that. You are valueless to CSN as far as this forum his concerned. That’s why you are avoided like leprosy to argue your blind arguements alone….My so-called lies are even ‘truer’ than your truths…LMAO. That’s how pathetic things are for you…Lolz
Who wrote this crap….
“…Please read the report correctly,They never said Oliseh was the first to play in Italian league. THEY SAID HE WAS THE FIRST TO PLAY IN SERIE A…” Show us where it was written in this article.
You now come here as usual after uve been busted to give us crap excuses to save face as usual…From stating equivocally like one who is hearing from many demons that “…THEY SAID HE WAS THE FIRST TO PLAY IN SERIE A…” you have quickly switched your mouth to “I want to believe CSN “WANTED TO SAY” bla bla bla…LMAO….O boy, after Lucifer the father of lies na you be next..LMAO
The same way you didnt say Eddie Newton does not have Nigerian blood yet HE HAS NO ATTACHMENT TO NIGERIA…LMAO (The lie of the year). Your presumed wisdom in your own eyes is only making you more of a lair on this forum..Lolz. “I have seen player coaches before, I’m not just a fan on players who do such”…LMAO …after laughing sarcastically and questioning the remotest possibility of someone playing and coaching at the same time. Lolz. Even the devil will be shocked how easily lies flow from the lips of a mere mortal…LMAO
Wikipedia, your holy book says “…Okwaraji had a career in Europe which included playing for AS Roma (1984-1985)…”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Okwaraji
Another report says “..He had left Nigeria in 1982 to study International Law in Italy. He put his studies on temporary hold to sign for the mighty Roma as a youth player…”
https://thesefootballtimes.co/2019/04/09/nigerian-footballs-darkest-day-when-five-fans-and-national-team-star-samuel-okwaraji-died-at-a-match/
But your stupidity continues to prompt you to continue arguing senselessly that “..Okwaraji never played for AS Roma…” and then you come back latter with a ton of lies as excuses.Lolz
I’m still waiting for you to give us one of your sweet lies to save face…something like..” actually I knew he played for AS Roma as a youth player, its just that i’m not a fan of youth players…” LMAO. Or “…being a youth player for a club does not make you a player of the club…” Or better still “….playing as a youth player is not counted as part of football or a player’s footballing career…” LMAO
OKWARAJI WAS THE FIRST NIGERIA TO PLAY IN ITALY…..FINIS EN KLAAR….!
Those who tried to impress it upon CSN to correct that impression did not err in anyway. Anybody who does not agree with such, the same way they dont agree with the fact that Franz Beckenbauer end his footballing career in a player-coach role or that G.Rohr is a cup finalist medal winner in Switzerland can go to blazees for all we care. LMAO
Go and ask your village people to show you the clips of the matches Okwaraji played if that is what will help you receive some sense.
Meanwhile we are still waiting for you to GIVE US PROOF THAT EDDIE NEWTON HAS NOT ATTACHMENT TO NIGERIA O…..afterall we are here to learn…LMAO
Maybe your own wiki can tell us how many games he played. So just stop posting what u self don’t have answers too. Well the whole CSN and froumites know how u like to twist peoples words to satisfy whatever ego you have.
Show us the cup RORh won in switzerland, you were quick to throw it out there until we found out you lying, same also calling franz becenbaur a player coach for Ny cosmos, bros, am not one of those morons followers who don’t do there homeworks before praising your lies
Till you show us proof he NEVER kicked a soccer ball in Italy……OKWARAJI REMAINS THE FIRST NIGERIAN TO PLAY IN ITALY…..FINIS EN KLAAR….! Go and re-write history if you like. LMAO. You that you do your homework show us proof that Eddie Newton has NO ATTACHMENT to Nigeria…..LMAO. Show us where CSN wrote that “..OLISEH WAS THE FIRST TO PLAY IN SERIE A…” LMAO.
As ‘moronic’ as my “followers” are, they are 100 times more intelligent than you…..at least they comprehend English and they can read properly….LMAO
Franz Beckenbauer ended his footballing career in a player-coach role #FACT
G.Rohr is a cup finalist medal winner in Switzerland #FACT
If he too pain you go drink sewage.
Meanwhile we are still waiting for your proof that Rohr has no coaching qualifications o….LMAO. We are here to learn….ROTF
NOW HERE’S ANOTHER INTERESTING NEWS
Napoli Keeping Vigil On Another Super Eagles Star
By Uchenna Ajah, With Agency Reports On Aug 7, 2020 0
Serie A campaigners Napoli are keeping vigil on Super Eagles and Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze as an alternative if their bid for Sassuolo winger Jeremie Boga fails to see the light of the day this summer.
The Partenopei have commenced preparation for the 2020-21 season with the recent signing of Chukwueze’s compatriot Victor Osimhen for €70m from Lille.
The Naples-based outfit are also in the market for a replacement for Jose Callejon whose contract will expire at the end of August, and have listed Boga as direct replacement and Chukwueze as an alternative, according to a report on lebombedivlad.it.
“Napoli have not hidden their desire to sign Boga, who is being coveted by several Serie A teams.
“Atalanta has overtaken Napoli in the race to sign Boga, valued at €30m, but the Partenopei believe they can get Chukwueze for €25m if they don’t get Boga,” the report read in part.
The 21-year-old Chukwueze netted four goals alongside six assists from 41 appearances for the Yellow Submarines the last La Liga campaign.
Please spare me all your lies about rorh winning anything in the wiss league, franz player coach, they afre bunch of lies created forom the pit of hell. And now you want to prove Okwaraji did play for AS Roma without any stats. Bros, like i always say you like attention and am not of of the blinded followers you have. You can keep publishing lies for us
2 different websites have reported Okwaraji as a former AS ROMA player. Till you show us proof Okwaraji NEVER kicked a soccer ball in Italy or that he was never a player of AS ROMA……OKWARAJI REMAINS THE FIRST NIGERIAN TO PLAY IN ITALY…..FINIS EN KLAAR….! Go and re-write history if it gives you sleepless nights. LMAO.
Franz Beckenbauer ended his footballing career in a player-coach role #FACT..Lolz
G.Rohr is a cup finalist medal winner in Switzerland #FACT….Lol
If he too pain you again go drink sewage.
Meanwhile we are still waiting for your proofs that Eddie Newton has NO ATTACHMENT with Nigeria and that Rohr has no coaching qualifications….LMAO. We are here to learn….ROTF
Stop feeding us needless lies. Maybe it is the website you opened to feed us lies. We are not interested
@Ade
Prove Drey wrong now… for the sake of we audience, just back up your words with references