Napoli head coach Walter Mazzarri has said he has pardoned Victor Osimhen for receiving a red card against AS Roma.

Osimhen was given his marching orders after collecting a second yellow card in Napoli’s 2-0 defeat at AS Roma.

Napoli went into the game against Roma hoping to bounce back from the shock 4-0 loss at home to Frosinone in the Coppa Italia.

Unfortunately, the Nigerian striker was sent off with four minutes left with the score at 1-0.

“Perhaps he felt the pressure after such a great season,” Mazzarri said at a press conference on Thursday, as quoted by Il Corriere dello Sport.

“Unfortunately, he was returning from an injury, and now he will play in the Africa Cup of Nations. I pardon him [for the red card] because he must be protected.”

Osimhen is not expected to play again for Napoli until February if the Eagles reach at least the semi-final of the AFCON 2023.

The 34th edition of the AFCON will be hosted in Côte d’Ivoire from Saturday, January 13 to Sunday, February 11 2024.

Nigeria, three-time AFCON winners, will play their first game against Equatorial Guinea on January 14.

The Super Eagles are in Group A with Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea.
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