No injury! Real reason Napoli’s Victor Osimhen is set to miss Portugal friendly

The Napoli forward is Nigeria’s most valuable player in the world, with a career-high market value of €70 million

Contrary to claims by the Nigeria Football Federation, Napoli striker Victor Osimhen is not suffering from any physical injury.

Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro had included Victor Osimhen in Nigeria’s 23-man squad for the international friendly with Portugal on Thursday, November 17.

But the NFF, in a statement released on Twitter on Monday, announced that Osimhen was injured and that Cremonese forward Cyriel Dessers had been called up as the 23-year-old’s replacement.

However, the Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport, in their Tuesday edition (via Tutto Napoli), reports that Osimhen has no physical problem.

The former Lille lad only snubbed the Portugal friendly to avoid taking risks that could endanger him in the friendly encounter.

Osimhen has been crucial to Napoli’s charge for a first Serie A title tilt in three decades, with the Nigerian forward scoring nine goals for the Neapolitans.

Meanwhile, Osimhen’s replacement Cyriel Dessers has arrived in the Nigerian camp ahead of the Portugal clash.

Dessers arrived alongside Omonia Nicosia goalkeeper Francis Uzoho bringing the number of players at Jose Peseiro’s disposal to 22.

Soccernet.ng had earlier reported the arrival of Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and Nantes winger Moses Simon in Portugal.

Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze is the only Super Eagles star still being expected in camp.