Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen will undergo surgery on Tuesday (today) after he fractured his cheekbone and eye socket in Napoli’s 3-2 defeat by Inter Milan on Sunday.
The 22-year-old was substituted in the 52nd minute following a nasty clash of heads with Inter’s Milan Skriniar.
Napoli confirmed the extent of the injury on Twitter, adding that the forward “will undergo surgery today in Naples”.
Reports in the Italian media suggest the surgery to repair damage to his left eye and the surrounding region could sideline him for at least six weeks.
“Osimhen will return to Naples in the evening (Monday evening), will remain under observation and will be operated tomorrow (today) by Gianpaolo Tartaro assisted by the Health Manager of the club Raffaele Canonico,” Napoli tweeted.
He is Napoli’s top scorer this season with nine goals in 14 appearances.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF, faces an anxious wait over the fitness of Osimhen with the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon kicking off on January 9.
Nigeria will open their campaign for a fourth continental title on January 11 against Egypt.
Osimhen netted four times in six games to help Nigeria to reach Africa’s World Cup play-offs next March.
He also finished as joint-top scorer in qualifying for the delayed Nations Cup, with five goals.