Sports
Napoli’s fall from grace, Garcia’s future, Osimhen’s dilemma
Napoli will be playing Salernitana in Serie A this weekend, a fixture that in the past might have seemed like an easy win for them. However, the current season paints a different picture.
In their recent match against AC Milan, the Italian champions found themselves trailing by two goals and had to stage a comeback to secure a 2-2 draw at home. This result reflects their overall poor form this season, as they currently occupy fifth place in the league with 18 points from 10 matches, having won five, drawn three, and lost two.
While some may argue that it’s premature to sound the alarm bells, there are evident issues with the Napoli team this season. The departure of their charismatic coach, Luciano Spalletti, who led them to their first Scudetto in 33 years, has left a void. Spalletti chose to step away, citing the need for a sabbatical and explaining that he no longer had the energy to meet the high expectations.
Rudi Garcia was appointed as his successor, a move that many found surprising. However, since taking charge, Garcia has failed to make a significant impact. Clinton McDubus, a prominent football analyst and podcaster, attributes Napoli’s decline this season to Garcia’s management. McDubus criticizes Garcia’s tactics, decision-making, and game management, asserting that his leadership is taking the team backward.
One notable incident that has drawn attention is the social media controversy involving star striker Victor Osimhen. Napoli’s official TikTok account mocked Osimhen for missing a penalty against Bologna, which has cast doubts on his future with the club. Despite this, McDubus believes that Osimhen, who played a pivotal role in Napoli’s title win last season, remains a professional and can be relied upon to score goals. He suggests that Osimhen, along with his teammates, is suffering due to the manager’s incompetence.
Some observers have compared Napoli’s situation to second-season syndrome, drawing parallels with Leicester City’s unexpected Premier League win in 2015. Currently, Napoli finds itself trailing the two Milan clubs and Juventus, the traditional Serie A champions.
In conclusion, Rudi Garcia needs to address the team’s performance, and Victor Osimhen must overcome a slow start to ensure Napoli doesn’t fall further down the league table. The team’s fortunes may improve if there is a managerial change, but for now, their season is off to a challenging start.
Hugo Broos, the head coach of South Africa’s national football team, Bafana Bafana, has unveiled a preliminary squad of 36 players for their upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Nigeria and Zimbabwe. Bafana Bafana will first play against the Super Eagles at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, June 7. Subsequently, they will host Zimbabwe at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Tuesday, June 11, 2024.
Broos is expected to reduce the squad to 23 players in the coming days. Presently, Bafana Bafana holds the second position in Group C with three points garnered from two games, while the Super Eagles are in third place with two points, also from two matches.
Victor Osimhen and Bruno Onyemaechi have been added to the Super Eagles’ list of injured players ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin.
According to a report from DAILY POST, Osimhen was absent from Napoli’s training session on Monday following an injury sustained during their Serie A match against Bologna over the weekend. Napoli’s official website indicated that the forward was undergoing recovery work for a muscle strain, casting doubt on his availability for the upcoming league clash against Fiorentina.
Meanwhile, left-back Bruno Onyemaechi has been ruled out for the rest of the season due to a knee injury.
AC Milan winger Samuel Chukwueze is also uncertain for the two upcoming games due to an injury concern.
Furthermore, Moses Simon, Zaidu Sanusi, and Tyrone Ebuehi have already been sidelined from the qualifiers due to long-term injuries.
On a positive note, vice-captain William Troost-Ekong has recently resumed training after undergoing surgery following the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Real Madrid has clinched the LaLiga championship for the 2023-2024 season, officially confirmed following Girona’s 4-2 victory over Barcelona in the late match.
Carlo Ancelotti’s squad secured a 3-0 home win against Cadiz, courtesy of goals from Brahim Diaz, Jude Bellingham, and Joselu.
With these results, Real Madrid now holds 87 points from 34 matches. Barcelona’s defeat places them in third position with 73 points, one less than Girona.
This marks the 36th occasion that Los Blancos have claimed the league title.
Ahead, Real Madrid is set to host Bayern Munich in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final encounter, with the tie currently level at 2-2.
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