Italian manager defends children ‘blacking up’ as Osimhen

Italy national team coach Roberto Mancini has defended Italian children who have painted their face black to look like Napoli star Victor Osimhen during carnival week in Naples.

It is a norm during festival in Napels, sporting costumes, masks and capes both adults and children traditionally attend the carnival dressed as one of their heroes – and this year several children chose to embody Osimhen, who has netted 20 goals in 24 matches for Napoli this season.

Hitting out at Italian culture, Neapolitan writer Sabrina Efionayi – who, like Osimhen, is of Nigerian origin – took to social media to criticise parents for allowing their children to use blackface during the carnival.

Mancini has however, defended the parents and children, insisting that ‘where some see racism, he see only wonder.’