Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has voluntarily stepped down from penalty-taking duty for Napoli following a controversy involving TikTok videos posted by the club. Two videos, deemed insulting by Osimhen, were shared on Napoli's TikTok account, one of which mocked his penalty miss in a Serie A match against Bologna in late September. The incident led to the departure of one of Napoli's social media executives.
Despite Napoli being awarded penalties in all three games played since the controversy, Osimhen has not taken any of them. Instead, Piotr Zielinski, Matteo Politano, and others have assumed the responsibility.
According to reports, it was Osimhen's decision to remove himself from penalty duty, feeling that he had been unfairly ridiculed by the club's social media team. Previously, Osimhen had successfully converted penalty kicks during Napoli's title-winning 2022/23 season and the early stages of the 2023/24 campaign. His decision reflects his displeasure with the club's handling of the TikTok videos and its impact on his confidence
