Napoli clinch first Italian football league title in 33 years

Napoli bagged their first Italian ‘Serie A’ title after a 33-year gap, winning the lucrative trophy on Thursday with a draw against Udinese at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples, Italy.

Napoli needed only a draw to take an unassailable 16-point lead with games remaining, Serie A’s top scorer, Victor Osimhen, scored the equaliser for Napoli in the 52nd minute of the match, which made the club supporters jubilant. The Nigerian footballers scored their 26th goal of the season to secure Napoli their third Scudetto in the history of the Italian football club.

Luciano Spalletti’s side had the chance to seal the title with a victory against Salernitana on Sunday after Lazio failed to surpass Inter Milan. However, Napoli drew 1-1 at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples to extend their wait for the title this season.

This is the first title for the club since 1990, when the great Argentinian footballer Diego Maradona was part of the team, after whom the stadium is named.

Napoli’s superb victory sees Luciano Spalletti’s team become the first side outside of Juventus, Inter Milan, and AC Milan to bag the Serie A title since Roma in 2001.

The goal of the 24-year-old Nigerian footballer changed the complexion of the match, which gave the title to Napoli. However, the African international forward became the league’s top scorer with 21 goals in 26 matches.

Napoli clinched previous titles during the reign of Diego Maradona in 1986–87 and 1989–90.

“Seeing Neapolitans happy is enough to give you a sense of that joy they are feeling,” said Napoli coach Spalletti, who at 64 became the oldest manager to win Serie A.