Osimhen wins player of the match award in Napoli’s Champions League win at Braga

Napoli’s Nigerian forward #09 Victor Osimhen (L) fights for the ball with Sporting Braga’s Portuguese defender #06 Jose Fonte (R) during the UEFA Champions League 1st round day 1 group C football match between SC Braga and Napoli at the Municipal stadium of Braga on September 20, 2023. (Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA / AFP)

Victor Osimhen was named Man of the Match after helping Napoli beat Sporting Braga 2-1 in their Group C opening game of the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night.

Napoli posted a photo of Osimhen with the Man of the Match award on their X handle.

Osimhen did not score, but he put in a five-star performance, which gave the Serie A champions the perfect start to this season’s campaign.

Osimhen should have opened the scoring within five minutes when he pounced on a poor Jose Fonte back-pass, but fired straight at the Braga keeper.

The top scorer in Serie A last season tested the home team’s keeper with a header which was saved.

Moments later Osimhen went even closer with a powerful shot from the edge of the area that cannoned against the crossbar.

He continued troubling the Braga defence in the first half and thought he had won Napoli a penalty, but after viewing it on VAR it was overturned.

Napoli eventually opened the scoring in the first minute of added time in the first half as Osimhen knocked down a Kvicha Kvaratskhelia cross from the left and Giovanni Di Lorenzo smashed it on the volley off the underside of the crossbar.

The Nigerian striker continued troubling the Braga backline before eventually going off in the 90th minute.

Up next for Osimhen and his Napoli teammates on match day two of the Champions League is a home game against Real Madrid.

He has scored three goals in four appearances in the Italian