Stunning scenes as Napoli ends long wait to win Italy’s Serie A

Thousands of fans in Udine, at the Stadio Maradona and all around southern Italy’s biggest city exploded with joy as 33 years of waiting came to an end for Napoli. VIDEO, PICTURES

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May 5, 2023 - 9:29AM

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Fans celebrate in Naples after Napoli won the "Scudetto", ending a 33-year wait to become Serie A champions. Picture: AFP

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After 33 years of waiting, it was always going to be a big party. And as the whistle blew on Napoli’s 1-1 draw at Udinese, the southern Italian city erupted into a collective roar of joy at its team securing their first Serie A title since the days of Diego Maradona.

“It’s unbelievable! It’s been so long!” said Facundo Quense, 33, as fans celebrated with tears, shouts, laughter and hugs amid a sea of smoke from red flares.

The team was playing on the other side of the country, but fans gathered across Naples to follow the match on big screens in squares and in front of churches.

“We will win the title!” they chanted over and over as horns blew across streets and balconies that have been adorned in blue bunting, blue flags and blue banners for weeks.

No one is sleeping in Naples tonight... ðŸ˜ðŸ”¥ pic.twitter.com/M7p1xOOY3y
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 4, 2023

Neapol oszlalaÅ‚. Gol Osimhena wprawiÅ‚ w ekstazÄ™ kibicÃ³w. Co za sceny pod Wezuwiuszem @przeglad #wÅ‚oskarobota pic.twitter.com/AT9jp0RwCj
— Adrian Heluszka (@aheluszka) May 4, 2023

Nothing compares to Napoli ðŸŽ† pic.twitter.com/8KapA3WTpr
— Italian Football TV (@IFTVofficial) May 4, 2023

Fans celebrate in Naples after Napoli won the Italian champions "Scudetto" title after a decisive match in Udine. Picture: AFP

Fans celebrate as they watch the Serie A match between Udinese and Napoli live on a big screen at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples, Italy. Picture: Getty Images

Victor Osimhen scored the decisive goal as Napoli’s current stars came back from trailing to Sandi Lovric’s opener at half-time and emulated the teams led by Diego Maradona which won the league in 1987 and 1990.

Spalletti and his team will receive an emotional welcome when they return to Naples, where the partying is set to continue to until at least their next home fixture against Fiorentina on Sunday evening.

Napoli's Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen reacts during the Italian Serie A football match between Udinese and Napoli on May 4, 2023 at the Friuli stadium in Udine. (Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP)

Victor Osimhen is surrounded by Napoli fans after their side wins the Serie A title. Picture: Getty Images

It was appropriate that Osimhen was the man to take Napoli over the line as the Nigeria striker has had the best season of his career and been key to Napoli’s historic charge to glory.

Osimhen’s title-deciding strike was his 22nd goal in 28 league appearances and rightly caused bedlam among the massed ranks of away fans who took over the Dacia Arena in Udine.

Napoli’s 16-point lead over second-placed Lazio leaves them with a month-long parade between now and the end of the season which will allow their long-suffering supporters to fully unload more than a generation of frustration.