NAPLES, Italy – Nigerian footballer Victor Osimhen has made history by becoming the first African player to win the Serie A Golden Boot, awarded for scoring the highest number of goals in the 2022/23 campaign.
The Napoli striker netted 26 goals in 32 matches, outscoring his nearest rival, Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez, to win the prestigious “Capocannoniere” award.
Osimhen, who had already scored 25 goals ahead of Napoli’s game on Sunday, June 4, 2023, against Sampdoria, scored from the penalty spot to add to his tally as his club won 2-0.
“This season has been brilliant for me, for my teammates, and for Napoli. We deserved this,” Osimhen said in an interview with DAZN.
When asked about a potential big-money summer move, he stated, “I don’t know, the president has to decide that.
I love the people of Napoli, they have shown me so much love. For me, I don’t mind, the president decides, and I will just go with the flow.”
The Nigerian’s performance has been key in helping Napoli win their first league title in 33 years and their third overall.
Earlier, Osimhen also received the Best Striker award for his efforts throughout the season.
Osimhen’s achievement comes after several previous attempts by African players to win the Golden Boot.
Despite the fact that George Weah, the only African Ballon d’Or winner, played in Italy, he never won the Golden Boot.
Osimhen’s compatriot Simy Nwankwo challenged for the Capocannoniere in the 2020/21 campaign but fell short.
Cameroonian legend Samuel Eto’o came close to winning the award in the 2010/2011 season when he scored 21 league goals, which was fewer than Napoli’s Edinson Cavani and the eventual winner Antonio Di Natale of Udinese, who scored 28 goals.
