The 23-year-old’s participation in the Africa Cup of Nations has been thrown into further doubt following Napoli’s latest statement
Nigeria have suffered a huge blow ahead of the 2021 AFCON after Napoli announced that star striker Victor Osimhen has tested positive for coronavirus.
Napoli announced Osimhen’s coronavirus status in a tweet on their official Twitter handle. However, it also added that the Nigerian striker is asymptomatic.
The statement read: SSC Napoli reports that the player Victor Osimhen tested positive, asymptomatic, at Covid-19 during the execution of the swab before the trip to Italy, where a checkup by Prof. Tartaro was scheduled for tomorrow.
Consequently, the local authorities have ordered that Osimhen self-isolate and the checkup will be rescheduled after he has tested negative and his period of isolation ends.
Osimhen flew into Nigeria last weekend after Napoli allowed him to travel home. But it is the second time the Nigerian will test positive for the virus after a trip to Nigeria.
The 23-year-old had tested positive for the virus at the same time last year after celebrating his 22nd birthday with family and friends.
Although he kept his 23rd birthday lowkey this year, the ex-Lille striker was at the Onikan Stadium on boxing day to support Super Falcon star Asisat Oshoala’s foundation.
Osimhen is now expected to isolate for ten days, which is a blow for the Super Eagles and the player ahead of the 2021 AFCON, which begins on January 9.
The Nigerian striker was initially a doubt for the competition after picking up a facial injury in Napoli’s 3-2 loss to Inter Milan last month.
Osimhen went through a complicated but successful surgery after the game, and it was confirmed that he would be out for three months.
However, the ex-Wolfsburg star has made a quick return ahead of schedule and declared himself available for selection.
Still, Napoli were adamant it would take a miracle for Osimhen to play in the tournament, although he initially had a scheduled checkup with the Napoli doctor on Friday.
But with the checkup now postponed due to the compulsory ten-day isolation period, Osimhen’s participation in the competition is now seriously in doubt.
This post was last modified on December 30, 2021 5:27 pm
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Any means to make sure osimen do not play in afcon... This master and slavery relationship has to end one day. How do you dictate to the man holding the knife and the yam
Africa Arise
I just wonder y they are trying to frustrate Osimhen from playing at AFCON , if I am Osimhen I would just stay with them in Italy till AFCON is over and then my performance in Naples will be determined by me, and see if they would send me to loan or sell me then after I would raise my capability.
Osimhen remains a price jewel for Napoli. since the injury spell, his team fortune continued to dwindles!, l strongly believed Napoli FC will not take AFCON risk.
Pls replace another player.
Africa arise ko, Africa submit ni. Napoli pays his wages, the same wages that has given him the life he could never have had if he stayed in that useless country. Why don’t you develop your own league and pay your players the same wages, then foreigners won’t poach them from you. The players will have absolutely no reason to go overseas if you do that. How many South African or Egyptian players do you see plying their trade overseas? Few, if any! They have no reason to. They have great infrastructure and a great league that pays the players comfortably well. It is that simple. This has nothing to do with race or some stupid parochial nonsense!