October 08, (THEWILL) – On September 25, a TikTok post from the Napoli account sparked a social media firestorm spanning continents and involving figures from footballers to government officials. The video in question featured clips of Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen missing a penalty kick interspersed with an oddly distorted voiceover. This prompted accusations of racism and mockery which Napoli strongly denied. While the club maintained that no malice was intended, the backlash was swift and far-reaching.
To fully comprehend the escalating tensions, it is vital to understand the background leading up to this point. Victor Osimhen joined Napoli in 2020 for a club record fee of $80 million, with potential add-ons taken into consideration. As Nigeria’s biggest footballing star, his move brought immense pride but also intense pressure to succeed. Initial injuries and COVID-19 setbacks prevented Osimhen from making an immediate impact. However, he soon showcased immense talent, finishing last season by helping the I Partenopei lift their first Scudetto in over three decades since the time of the late icon Diego Maradona.
Alongside that historic victory, Osimhen became the first African to secure the Serie A top scorer award, to become the first black capocannoniere after netting an impressive 26 goals in 38 games. His remarkable performance not only earned him personal accolades in Italy but for Nigeria as well. Osimhen’s contribution to the Nigerian national team was invaluable in the period. He scored five goals in six games during the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, leading his country to the top of their group. With 17 goals in 25 games, he currently stands as the sixth-highest goalscorer in the history of the Nigerian national team. This highlights the exalted position he occupies in the Super Eagles’ squad and in the heart of the football-loving Nigerians.
Coming into the current season, expectations of Osimhen’s exploits were high, especially after he apparently rebuffed incessant interests from Europe’s top sides, such as Manchester United, Chelsea, in the English Premier League, Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, and an outrageous money inducement from the Saudi Pro League to remain in Naples. This was important for the club with Osimhen being so central to Napoli’s title ambitions.
However, the Napoli striker faced ridicule from an unlikely source two weeks ago after his own club’s official TikTok account posted the mocking clip. It came after the Nigerian international saw his penalty kick saved during Napoli’s frustrating 0-0 draw away to Bologna on Sunday. With the game still goalless, Osimhen stepped up hoping to give Napoli a late winner. Unfortunately, the 24-year-old blasted his spot kick wide, much to the dismay of fans expecting maximum points. Osimhen was subsequently substituted and had to later apologise to teammates over the miss and his reaction to being replaced.
It was after this goalless result that Napoli’s official TikTok page posted a video appearing to mock Osimhen, with the childish audio inserted as he challenged for the penalty and failed to score. The club left the controversial post online for over 24 hours. Unsurprisingly, the video sparked outrage among Nigerian football supporters. They slammed Napoli for denigrating their own player in such an unprofessional manner. The TikTok clip was widely recirculated on social media, escalating the backlash.
With criticism mounting, Napoli finally removed the post from their TikTok channel. Still, the damage was already done, with many arguing players should be off limits for official club ridicule. Osimhen himself reacted by removing every and any post on his social media that has any association with the club, leaving his personal pictures and pictures of himself in the Green and White of Nigeria.
Matters escalated further when Napoli’s head of social media, Alessio Fortino, resigned just days later. Fortino was tasked with coordinating and overseeing Napoli’s social media efforts rather than being in charge of editorial duties at Tiktok, where the Osimhen video was posted. His social media responsibilities were therefore unrelated to any editorial activities at the club’s social media handles. While that was the official position, it is hard to ignore the timing of his departure. His resignation came at a time when the club was under intense scrutiny for its handling of the situation.
Meanwhile, in Nigeria, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, John Enoh, took up Osimhen’s cause. Dare drew the Nigerian Foreign Ministry and Nigeria’s ambassador to Italy into the fray, determined to defend Osimhen from perceived mistreatment.
On their part, Napoli claimed no racial motivations, stating the video aimed to show Osimhen’s humility and willingness to redeem himself after the penalty miss. Osimhen himself attempted to diffuse tensions by professing his continued devotion and respect for Napoli. However, neither this nor Napoli’s denial of racism satisfied the majority of Nigerian football fans, who continued demanding not just an unambiguous apology but mediatory action.
Opinions on the severity of the incident remain divided. Supporters of Osimhen and the Nigerian government argue that dismissiveness about racist undertones enables discrimination. To them, Napoli must be held accountable for crossing ethical lines, regardless of claims of innocence. Conversely, Napoli maintain that while the video may have been poorly conceived, vitriol towards it is unwarranted given benign intentions. Some also highlight Osimhen’s own restraint, suggesting overreactions serve little constructive purpose.
Evaluating the necessity and proportionality of the Nigerian government’s response is also debated. Those supportive emphasise that defending citizens, especially high profile athletes, against perceived slights remains vital, particularly regarding racial issues. However, others contend that diplomatic escalations, involving the Foreign Affairs Minister and Italian ambassador, were premature at this stage.
This controversy echoes similar issues in football involving power imbalances. Players often face exploitative treatment, fueling demands for greater protections. Racism towards prominent black players like Osimhen also necessitates strong anti-discrimination policies. However, balancing accountability with measured responses remains complex.
Footballers hold enormous cultural influence. How teams and leagues handle racial controversies can profoundly impact progress. While eradicating racism justifies firm stances, overly zealous reactions can also breed resentment and resistance.
Parallels exist in how Brazilian authorities staunchly defended soccer star Vinicius Jr. against racist incidents. However, contexts differ, requiring nuanced handling. Following established protocols for investigating discrimination claims before making accusations can help avoid inflaming tensions unconstructively. Addressing the deeper challenges highlighted by this controversy remains vital. Increased cultural and racial sensitivity training could significantly improve team environments. Social media guidelines regarding appropriate content must also be strengthened to avoid issues.
Additionally, improved channels allowing players to raise concerns discreetly could identify and resolve problems before they become public spectacles requiring extreme measures. Teams should also build relationships with national Federations and governing bodies to facilitate good-faith cooperation when disputes occur.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
