Osimhen: Apologize Over Insulting Comments On Africa, Nigeria - Lawyer Advises SSC Napoli

Osimhen: Apologize Over Insulting Comments On Africa, Nigeria - Lawyer Advises SSC Napoli By Niyi Busari A Nigeria lawyer, Amobi Ezeaku, Esq. has told Napoli to apologise to Nigeria, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Africa over its insulting comments on the continent's biggest football competition, SSC Napoli frustrated all efforts for Nigeria to have Victor Osimhen in its squad for AFCON even after the player declared himself fit for tournament. The lawyer in a letter addressed to Messr Mattia Grassani and Enrico Lubrico, dated December 31 and titled "Need To Exercise Caution And Accord Respect To Nigeria, NFF, Victor Osimhen And African Continent" reads: "We are startled to have read about comments allegedly credited to you wherein you opined that the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) takes valuable resources away from your Club. We are also dismayed to further learn that you are considering launching a legal suit in your body to stop Victor Osimhen from representing Nigeria at the forthcoming AFCON even when the player had declared himself fit for the tournament. It continued, "Your position/opinion on the health standard at AFCON not being the same as in European Competitions is a big slight on the continent of Africa and an insult also on the African players in Napoli. Such comments are only deserving of outright withdrawal and open apology. The letter added that the Club action contravened FIFA statute Annexe 1. Principle 1.1 of the FIFA Regulation on the status and transfer of players to the effect that "clubs are obliged to release their registered players to the representative teams of a country for which the player is eligible to play on the bass of his nationality if they are called up by the association concerned. Any agreement between a player and a club to the contrary is prohibited." Super Eagles of Nigeria will without Victor Osimhen travel to Cameroon for the 33rd edition of AFCON on January 5. The three-time African champions will lock horns with Egypt on January 11 before taking on Sudan and Guinea Bissau on January 15 and 19 respectively in the second and last group matches.