Osimhen out for a month after suffering injury

Nigerian and Napoli of Italy striker, Victor Osimhen, will be out of action for one after following injury he sustained in their match against Inter Milan on Sunday.

This could be a big blow for the Super Eagles in their quest to win a fourth AFCON in Cameroon in January.

The 22-year-old Osimhen has been transferred to the Niguarda Hospital with Napoli confirming the extent of the injury suffered by the striker.

Also Read: Victor Osimhen: From Ojota slum to Italian limelight

The Nigerian international suffered the injury following a clash of heads with Inter’s Milan Skriniar and he was replaced by Andrea Petagna four minutes before the hour mark at San Siro Stadium.

It was Napoli who took the lead through Piotr Zielinski in the 17th minute but Inter drew level in the 25th minute when Hakan Calhanoglu converted from the penalty spot and they extended their lead through Ivan Perisic in the 44th minute.

Lautaro Martínez made it 3-1 for Inter in the 61st minute and despite Napoli reducing the deficit in the 78th minute courtesy of Dries Mertens, the Nerazzurri held on for the vital win.

Napoli have confirmed in a statement that the Super Eagles star has been diagnosed with multiple displaced facial fractures and will undergo surgery in Milan.

“The instrumental tests carried out on Victor Osimhen at the end of the Inter-Napoli match revealed multiple displaced fractures of the orbit and of the left cheekbone,” Napoli said in a statement on their official website.

“The player will undergo surgery in the next few days and will remain under observation at the Niguarda Hospital in Milan on.”

Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti spoke to DAZN on the Osimhen injury as quoted by Football Italia:

“He has been taken to hospital for tests and there are fears he might’ve fractured his cheekbone.

“He is generous and lets himself get caught up in what’s happening around, but he has to make choices. If he chases everyone, we have to adjust to chase him and it becomes a constant sprint to keep the team tight.

“He has this swollen eye and couldn’t see very well, so he needs tests. The swelling went up around his eye and I hope it is just a bruise. I hope.”