Osimhen worry for Nigeria ahead of AFCON as Napoli reveal the extent of his injury

The 22-year-old walked off ten minutes into the second half of the Neapolitans Serie A clash against the Nerazzurri due to an injury

Napoli have confirmed that Osimhen fractured his orbit and cheekbone in their Italian Serie A match against Inter Milan on Sunday evening.

Osimhen walked off ten minutes into the second half of the encounter at the San Siro Stadium following a clash of heads with Milan Škriniar.

The two clashed inside Inter’s penalty box as they tried to compete with a cross from Hirving Lozano. Both players needed treatment after the clash, but it was Osimhen that came out worse.

The Super Eagles star walked off with a swollen black eye and cheekbone. Napoli have now confirmed that tests following the match showed that Osimhen did fracture his orbit and cheekbone.

The Parthenopeans revealed in a statement on their website that Osimhen will have to undergo surgery, which will happen in a few days.

Napoli’s statement read: 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.

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

The news is a blow for Nigeria ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations, which begins on January 9th, 2022. Osimhen is Nigeria’s leading star, but his latest injury could see him miss the competition.

Although it is not clear yet when he is likely to return, a cheekbone and orbit surgery take a combined nine weeks to heal, according to reports.