Osimhen discharged from clinic in Milan, NFF worried

Injured Super Eagles and Napoli of Italy striker, Victor Osimhen, has been discharged from the Ruesch Clinic in Milan, where he underwent facial reconstruction after suffering multiple fractures to the cheekbone and orbital bone.

But the news of his long layoff, which includes the duration of the African Nations Cup in Cameroon, is giving officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) a sleepless night.

Osimhen sustained multiple fractures in an aerial clash with Inter Milan’s defender, Milan Skriniar, last Sunday in a Serie A clash.

Operating surgeon, Gianpaolo Tartaro, had explained the procedure for the reconstruction, which needed six plaques and up to 18 screws.

The initial rehabilitation is said to be for at least 90 days, ruling Osimhen out of the 2022 Nations Cup, which kicks off on January 9.

“Victor Osimhen was discharged from the Ruesch Clinic this morning, and returned home,” Napoli said in a statement on their website.

“He will have a rest period of at least 10 to 15 days and then he will be re-evaluated.

“The SSCN and Dr. Raffaele Canonico, thank Inter and, in particular the CEO Giuseppe Marotta and Dr. Piero Volpi, as well as the staff of the Niguarda of Milan, for the precious and immediate collaboration on the occasion of the injury of the blue striker.”

Mr Tartaro has guaranteed Osimhen will be back in great condition after the surgery. “It really was a complex operation. The condition of his face was really bad, but I can guarantee the surgery was a complete success,” he stated.

Osimhen had scored 13 goals in 20 appearances for club and country before his injury.

An official of the NFF told The Guardian, yesterday, that the absence of Osimhen would be ‘surely missed’ by the Super Eagles at Cameroon 2022 AFCON.

“The Super Eagles will feel the impact of Osimhen’s absence greatly if he can’t recover on time for the AFCON in Cameroun,” the official said pleading anonymity.

The Guardian recalls that Osimhen only featured for 45 minutes for the Super Eagles at Egypt 2019 AFCON, the third-place match against Tunisia. Nigeria won 1-0. ( The Guardian)