AS Roma coach banking on 2023 AFCON winner to frustrate 'one of the best strikers around' Osimhen 

AS Roma coach Daniele De Rossi is banking on Ivory Coast's 2023 Africa Cup of Nations-winning central defender Evan Ndicka to frustrate Victor Osimhen in Sunday's Serie A clash against Napoli at the Diego Maradona Stadium. 

Evan Ndicka has received the green light to resume sporting activities after collapsing on the pitch during the second half of Roma's match against Udinese on April 14.

Daniele De Rossi is facing a crisis at centre-back ahead of today's clash with Napoli, with Chris Smalling sidelined due to a muscle injury and Diego Llorente unavailable due to suspension.

In what could be a repeat of one of the individual duels at the AFCON showpiece, the Roma manager has suggested that the Ivorian will be named in the starting lineup  and given the responsibility of preventing one of the best strikers in the world, Osimhen from wreaking havoc.

Speaking to Roma's official YouTube page, De Rossi said: "N'Dicka is good, he has trained and he told me he feels great. We can see in training he's not afraid of going into tackles.

"He's 100 percent back to himself. He and and Mancini will have quite a battle on their hands because Osimhen is one of the best strikers around.

"We have complete confidence in them. As for Paredes, we'll able bale to manage even without a player of his ability."

Osimhen found the net in both matches against the Giallorossi during Napoli's title-winning campaign. 

However, during that time, Evan Ndicka was not part of the Roma side as he was still playing for Eintracht Frankfurt.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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