Victor Osimhen rues missing AFCON 2021 but was the best solution

Victor Osimhen has revealed what he felt missing the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

The 23-year-old striker was denied the opportunity to lead the Super Eagles attack in his second AFCON tournament through injury.

Victor Osimhen was badly injured a few weeks to the start of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations but recovered faster than the recovery time to be a part of the tournament.

The former Lille striker declared himself fit and ready to play in Cameroon immediately after he returned to training.

Victor Osimhen was bent on representing Nigeria and the Nigeria Football Federation also wanted him but Napoli were adamant their most expensive signing needed to fully recover.

After a period of back and forth between the party involved, a trip to Nigeria where Victor Osimhen contracted COVID-19 shattered all hopes.

And Victor Osimhen and NFF deiced to do Napoli’s bidding letting him recover fully and get clearance from Napoli’s doctor Professor Gianpaolo Tartaro.

Nigeria crashed out in the round of 16 but with his presence in the team, Super Eagles might be playing in the semifinal today.

And this made Victor Osimhen to reveal his unhappiness at missing the tournament to Napoli’s doctor Professor Gianpaolo Tartaro but concluded it was the right thing to do at the time.

“Victor is ready, and in Venice, he will be the starter: yesterday he reiterated to the medical staff that not leaving for the African Cup, even though it was a painful decision, also proved to be the best solution to get back in shape within the estimated time,” Tartaro said.

Victor Osimhen has since played in two games for Napoli all from the bench but he is expected to return to starting lineup this Sunday when they travel to Venice to face David Okereke and Tyronne Ebuehi Venezia.