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Victor Osimhen's late goal at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium was not enough to help Napoli qualify for the Champions League semis.
Napoli bowed out of the Champions League quarterfinals after falling to a 1-2 aggregate defeat against Serie A rivals AC Milan.
The defending Scudetto champions overcame the current league leaders in the first leg at the San Siro after Ismael Bennacer’s strike gave Milan the advantage in the first-leg.
Napoli, without their star striker Victor Osimhen in the first-leg, came into the second-leg confident of overturning the 1-0 deficit at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium as they welcomed back the Super Eagles star on Tuesday night, April 18.
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However, Napoli fell narrowly short of progressing to the next stage if the competition after missed penalty from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the 82nd minute put the Partenopei’s hopes of qualifying for the semis in serious doubt following Olivier Giroud gave Milan the lead in the first half.
But Naples sprung back to life in stoppage time as Osimhen fired home to give the hosts a lifeline on the night.
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But his goal proved too little, too late as Napoli were ultimately knocked out 1-2 on aggregate against their domestic rivals Milan, who will now face either Benfica or Inter in the Champions League semifinals.
Osimhen links up with Peter Okoye and Cubana Chiefpriest after Napoli’s UCL exit
Following the game, Napoli striker Victor Osimhen was swarmed by fans who were excited to see their club’s leading goalscorer this season back in the team after two weeks on the sidelines.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria striker also shared a warm moment with two of Nigeria’s most popular celebrities, Peter Okoye of the iconic Afropop music duo P-Square and socialite Cubana Chief Priest.
Check out the video below:
Osimhen was all smiles as he hugged and exchanged both personalities following his team’s narrow defeat against Milan in the Champions League.
Osimhen took his goals tally for Napoli to 26 goals in 28 appearances for the current Serie A league leaders so far this season.
Meanwhile, Pulse Sports previously reported that Osimhen who recently featured for Nigeria against Guinea-Bissau in the AFCON 2023 qualifiers linked up with Nigerian music icon Peter Okoye of the duo music group ‘P-Square’.
Via a post on Okoye’s official Instagram page, Osimhen who is one of the most followed Nigerian footballers on Instagram was spotted with the music star and his son in their mansion in Lagos.
Osimhen looked delighted as he signed a Napoli shirt for the award-winning musician before taking some photos with his family.
The 24-year-old Nigeria international is expected to return for Napoli this weekend in Serie A.
The current league leaders will lock horns against Juventus at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday, April 23.
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