Napoli Surgeon Raises Alarm After Nigeria Named Osimhen in 28-Man Squad for AFCON 2022

• Victor Osimhen is desperate to participate at the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations billed to start on January 9 in Cameroon
• The Nigerian international who was injured in November was ruled out for three months following a successful surgery
• Nigeria have named the 23-year-old in the squad for AFCON, but the player’s surgeon has cautioned the side

Nigeria’s chances of having Victor Osimhen participate at the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations look bleak as Napoli surgeon Professor Gianpaolo Tartaro says only a miracle will see the striker participate.

Osimhen is recuperating from multiple fractures on his cheek following a clash with Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar on November 21.

He has returned to training after successful surgery and the 23-year-old has been named in Nigeria’s 28-man squad for the AFCON tournament by Super Eagles interim coach Augustine Eguavoen.

Football Italia are reporting that the former Lille of France forward is spending the yuletide season in Nigeria, but he is due to arrive in Naples on Friday for a medical check-up.

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The striker was originally ruled out of action for three months, but he recently took to social media saying he will be ready for the continental showpiece.

But the surgeon who operated on the player in November insists that the player needs more time to rest before returning to action.

Tavares said as per Sun News:

“For the formation of the callus bone, according to world protocols, it takes from sixty to ninety days. Unless a biological miracle.

“If he does not do the CT scan, we will not be able to dissolve the prognosis. Reduced fractures must consolidate: I repeat, for the formation of the callus, you have to wait two or three months unless a Christmas biological miracle: but biology is not a fan.”

What is NFF’s position on Osimhen’s status?

Meanwhile, Ademola Olajire, who is the media director of the Nigerian Football Federation, has stated emphatically that Victor Osimhen will definitely be among the Super Eagles players for the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon.

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There have been reports that Italian side Napoli are not ready to release the Nigerian player because of how he is currently recuperating from injury.

Several European clubs battle for Aribo’s signature

Sports Brief earlier reported that Nigeria International Joe Aribo is attracting lots of interest from English Premier League clubs as Leicester City and Aston Villa are set to go head to head for the signature of the Rangers midfielder.

Aribo has been in inspiring form for the current Scottish champions and was a key figure when the then Steven Gerrard-led team snatched their first league title in over a decade.

Leicester City are now ready to battle Aston Villa for the signature of the Nigerian.