Osimhen to sit out Napoli’s clash with Genoa

Victor Osimhen will sit out of Napoli’s Serie A fixture with Genoa this weekend after returning from the African Cup of Nations, the Italian champions said Friday.

In a statement, Napoli said that the Nigeria striker carried out “personalised training” on Friday, “work that he will also continue tomorrow (Saturday)” when his team host Genoa in Naples.

Osimhen should however be in the starting line-up for the first leg of Napoli’s Champions League last 16 tie with Barcelona, with Walter Mazzarri’s side at home against the Catalan giants on Wednesday night.

The 25-year-old last played for Napoli in a 2-0 defeat at rivals Roma before Christmas, a match in which he was sent off.

He then jetted off with his national team for the Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, where the Super Eagles were beaten by the host nation in a dramatic final.

Star forward Osimhen scored just once in the whole tournament, in Nigeria’s opening 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea.

Napoli’s Serie A title defence is in tatters as a disastrous season following the departure of Scudetto-winning coach Luciano Spalletti has left them ninth in Italy’s top flight.

Seven points separate Napoli from the division’s Champions League positions ahead of Saturday’s match, while they trail leaders Inter Milan by a whopping 25 points.