Nigerian Italian Serie A winners, Martins, Nsofor and Osimhen
Victor Osimhen is actually the 3rd Nigerian to win the Italian Serie A title. Obafemi Martins and Obinna Nsofor had previously enjoyed Scudetto success in separate seasons at Inter Milan.
SPORTSRATION presents a throwback to the 2004/2005 and 2008/2009 seasons when Martins and Nsofor conquered Italy.
OBAFEMI MARTINS (2005/2006 Inter Milan)
Aged 20, Obafemi Martins became the first Nigerian to taste Italian Serie A glory as Inter Milan were crowned Champions of the 2005/2006 season.
Managed by Roberto Mancini, Inter Milan won 23 games, drew 7 and lost 8 games on their way to the title.
That season, Internazionale Milan also won the Coppa Italia and Suppercoppa Italiana titles.
Obafemi famously scored 9 league goals in 28 appearances in their run to top-flight glory.
Oba-goal as he is fondly called left Inter Milan that summer to English Premier League side Newcastle United.
Now 38, the 42-cap former Nigeria International is unattached but yet to announce if he is retiring from active football.
OBINNA NSOFOR (2008/2009 Inter Milan)
Victor Obinna Nsofor followed in Obafemi Martins footstep when he won the Italian Serie A title with Inter Milan in the 2008/2009 season.
Under the tutelage of Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho, Inter won 25 games, drew 9 and lost 4 to finish as Champions 10-points clear of second placed Juventus.
Nsofor only joined the club that summer after helping Cheivo win the Serie B to earn top flight promotion.
The 49-cap Nigeria International made 9 league appearances and scored one goal that season.
VICTOR OSIMHEN (2022/2023 Napoli)
Man of the moment, Victor Osimhen became the 3rd Nigerian to win the Italian Serie A title on Thursday May 4, 2023 following Napoli`s 1-1 draw vs Udinese.
That draw meant Luciano Spalleti`s men will finish above the chasing pack no matter the outcome of the five remaining matches in the Italian Serie A.
Interestingly, all three Nigerian Serie A winners are strikers but unlike the others, Osimhen was his teams go-to man on their way to the title.
With 5-games to go this season, Osimhen has scored 22-goals to lead the goal-scorers chart in Italy.