Osimhen becomes first African to win the Paolo Rossi award, receives best striker prize

Victor Osimhen ended the season with a bang as he scored his 26th league goal in Napoli's 2-0 win over Sampdoria on the final day of the season.

Osimhen won a penalty in the 62nd minute after he was brought down by Nicola Murru and he stepped up to convert the spot kick to give the home side the lead.

He was replaced by Giovanni Simeone in the 77th minute who would go on to score the second goal in the 85th minute 

The Super Eagles forward become the first Nigerian and African to win the Paolo Rossi Award which is awarded by the Italian Footballers' Association (AIC) to the highest goalscorer of each season in Italy's Serie A. 

It has been a great season of individual and team success for the lanky forward.

He was named the best striker in the Serie A on Friday and was presented with the award before the game against Sampdoria

The 24-year-old also helped Napoli scoop the Scudetto for the first time in 33 years, thereby becoming the first Napoli player to win the league and the top scorer award in the same season.

He broke Samuel Eto'o's record of most goals scored by an African player in a single season in the Seria A and George Weah's record of most goals scored by an African in Serie A history.

The former Lille forward ends the season with 31 goals in all competitions for Napoli.

While it remains to be seen whether he will stay in Naples beyond this season, there is no doubt that he will go down as one of the best African players to have played in the Serie A.

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid    

Photo Credit: legaseriea.it

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