Red-hot Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen on Sunday reached a major landmark when he broke the African scoring record in the Italian Serie A previously held by the Great George Weah.
Osimhen, 24, who scored the historic goal that handed his side Napoli the Serie A title away to Udinese on Thursday once again scored the only goal for Napoli in their 1-0 win over Fiorentina on Sunday to mark their coronation in style.
What was more significant on Sunday was the feat achieved by Osimhen’s goal, his first from the penalty spot in the Serie A and one that sets a new scoring record for African footballers playing in Italy’s top flight.
The previous record was held by Weah who scored forty-six (46) goals for Italian giants AC Milan across five seasons in the 90s, needing 114 matches to reach the tally, his last goal coming against Venezia on November 7, 1999.
Osimhen has however broken the record with thirty-five (35) games fewer; the former Lille forward having scored his forty-seven (47) goals across three seasons and in just 79 games.
Sunday’s goal was Osimhen’s 23rd of the Serie A campaign which puts him in pole position to win the Capocannoniere – the nickname of the Serie A Golden Boot award – as he is now four goals clear of his nearest challenger, Lautaro Martinez of Inter Milan.
With four more matches still to play in the Serie A season, Osimhen still has the chance to extend his goals tally with a view to claiming more records for himself and at this point, it seems only Victor can stop Osimhen!
Having already smashed the record for most goals by an African in a single Serie A season and now eclipsing the record for most goals by an African in the competition’s history, the question now is; what record does Osimhen chase next?
