Champions League: Osimhen set to miss Napoli against Ajax
Osimhen has remained sidelined since and he’ll have to wait a little longer to return to action.
Super Eagles and Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has not yet returned to squad training and is set to miss the upcoming Champions League clash between Ajax and Napoli.
The 23-year-old forward started the season fairly well under Luciano Spalletti, scoring in wins over Hellas Verona and Monza, but things took a turn for the worse when he suffered a hamstring injury in the 41st minute of their Champions League win over Liverpool last month.
Osimhen has remained sidelined since and he’ll have to wait a little longer to return to action.
As announced by Napoli, Osimhen continued his personalised training programme in the gym , with it still being too early for him to return to squad training. He has missed the last three league matches and could miss the next Serie A clash against Cremonese next weekend.
The Partenopei are travelling to the Netherlands on Wednesday to face Ajax and Osimhen is not expected to join the squad, staying in Campania to continue his recovery.
Meanwhile, Ajax the next team to face Napoli’s wrath in the Champions League.
The Dutch giants started their domestic campaign in the usual slick fashion that seems them storm to the top of the Eredivisie table, but things have been a little difficult in Amsterdam since mid-September.
A 2-1 loss to Liverpool on September 13 was followed up by a 2-1 away loss to AZ Alkmaar, and Ajax did not bounce back from the international break in the best fashion, only picking up a 1-1 draw at home against Go Ahead Eagles, though they won last game with huge margin over the weekend.
Their slip has allowed AZ Alkmaar to overtake them in the table and given them something to mull over as they prepare to host an electric Napoli side, one of their toughest tests of the season.
Napoli have looked a team reborn under Luciano Spalletti this season, rising from the ashes of their failed Scudetto bid last season with the help of key additions like Kvara Kvaratskhelia, Kim Min-Jae and Giovanni Simeone.
The Partenopei showed no signs of slowing down in their 3-1 win over Torino and they’re starting to look comfortable at the top of the Serie A table.
Belief is starting to grow in Campania that this could be the year they break their three-decade dry spell in the search for a league title, something not achieved since the days of Diego Maradona.
Things have been equally impressive in Europe as Spalletti’s side stormed to wins over Liverpool and Rangers, putting them top of Group A, and they’ll be confident of another victory in Amsterdam on Wednesday.
