Club and country concerns: Could Osimhen's penalty misses cost him spot-kick duties?

Victor Osimhen's penalty woes continued on Sunday night as the Napoli striker saw his spot-kick saved by Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny during their Serie A encounter.

Despite the miss, Napoli emerged victorious 2-1 thanks to a goal on the rebound by Giacomo Raspadori.

However, Osimhen's penalty failure has reignited discussions about his suitability as the designated penalty taker for both club and country.

Since the start of the 2022-2023 season, no player in the Serie A has missed more penalties than Osimhen, who has failed to convert three of the seven spot kicks he has taken.

The powerful striker's record from 12 yards is starting to become a concern, especially considering his prolific goalscoring form in open play.

Former Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti has previously defended Osimhen's penalty-taking technique, but the striker's confidence seems to be waning.

With other players in the squad boasting strong penalty records, questions are bound to arise about whether Osimhen should be relieved of his spot-kick duties.

For the Nigerian national team, the situation is equally pressing. Osimhen is their star striker and their hopes of success in upcoming qualifiers and tournaments could hinge on his ability to convert penalties.

The Super Eagles have a pool of talented attackers, but they might lack a designated penalty taker with a consistent record.

The reigning African Footballer of the Year will need to rediscover his confidence from the penalty spot as time goes on, if he wants to retain his position as the main penalty taker for both club and country.

Alternatively, Both his managers at club and country may be forced to look elsewhere for a reliable penalty taker moving forward. 

Ejim Kaycee

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