Super Eagles’ striker Osimhen is ruled out of AFCON after two severe injuries
Super Eagles, the Nigerian national football team, have suffered a massive blow ahead of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), after it was confirmed that star striker, Victor Osimhen will miss the tournament due to severe injury.
Osimhen picked up two nasty injuries during Napoli’s Serie A encounter against Inter Milan on Sunday evening at the San Siro Stadium.
fracture (a break in one of the bones surrounding the eyeball)
The 22-year-old Nigerian talisman collided with Inter defender, Milan Škriniar as a result, Osimhen, suffered an injury to his cheekbone and ended up with a swollen eye. Medical tests after the game revealed Osimhen suffered an orbital fracture and broke his cheekbone.
Napoli confirmed that he had successful surgery on Tuesday morning. However, the Serie A club revealed that he would have to miss three months of physical activity in order to recuperate, which effectively rules him out of AFCON.
According to a statement from Napoli, Victor Osimhen was operated on this morning by Prof. Tartaro, assisted by Dr Mario Santagata and in the presence of Dr Canonical, for a reduction and restraint operation of a multi-fragmentary and displaced fractures of the Malar bone, of the zygomatic arch and pommel, of the floor, and lateral wall of the orbit, and the diastasis of the frontal-zygomatic suture. It was also reported that the synthesis of the bone abutments was done with titanium plates and screws.
After the surgery, the footballer was said to be fine and will remain under observation for a few days, with the Nigerian football team anxious for his return to action in time for the AFCON.
The extent of the injury means that the Super Eagles may have to do without his service at the 2022 tournament, to be hosted by Cameroon.
Osimhen broke his left cheekbone and orbit, following the clash with Škriniar.
The cheekbone forms part of the eye socket, and according to medical professionals, it takes about six weeks after surgery for a cheekbone to heal properly.
This rules out the possibility of Osimhen playing for Nigeria in the tournament coming up on 9th January 2022.
Osimhen’s injury is also a blow to Napoli’s title hopes. The Nigerian striker has been the team’s best player this season, but they will have to be without him for at least two months.
The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, also referred to as AFCON 2021, or CAN 2021 is scheduled to be the thirty-third edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the biennial international men’s football championship of Africa organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).