Monday, September 28, 2026

Osimhen won’t be available for AFCON: Italian Surgeon

Tartaro revealed it would be difficult for the Super Eagles star to participate in the tournament as he would not be available for training for at least two months.

• November 25, 2021
Victor Osimhen
Victor Osimhen

Gianpaolo Tartaro, the Italian surgeon who operated on Victor Osimhen’s facial injuries has insisted that the striker will not be fit to play for the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) holding in Cameroon in January. 

Osimhen, 22, sustained fractures to his cheekbone and eye socket during Sunday’s 3-2 defeat by Inter Milan after clashing heads with defender Milan Skriniar. 

Tartaro revealed it would be difficult for the Super Eagles star to participate in the tournament as he would not be available for training for at least two months.

“A real training, with contact, (Osimhen) will not be able to do it for eight to nine weeks,” Tartaro told Corriere dello Sport.

“It is impossible to think that he will go to the African Cup: his body and his face came out distorted by the impact.”

Osimhen, who is  Napoli’s leading goal scorer this season has scored  nine goals in 13 appearances in both the Italian Serie A and Europa League.

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Health

Veterinarians urge renewed commitment to preventing deaths from rabies

Blueblood Veterinary Services has recommended stronger integrated surveillance linking veterinary and human health systems to prevent and eradicate rabies.

FRSC ambulance

NationWide

Road Crashes: FRSC deploys 170 ambulances nationwide for emergency rescue

The Federal Road Safety Corps has deployed more than 170 ambulances nationwide to strengthen emergency response and rescue operations on Nigerian roads.

Mia Mottley

Opinion

The Black Queen of Hearts: Why Mia Mottley captures the global spirit

For Africa and its diaspora, Mottley now represents something larger than the politics of Barbados.

Lokoja 2026 World Tourism Day event banner

Showbiz

Kogi moves to harness tourism, digital technology for growth

Kogi is exploring digital technology, artificial intelligence and investment opportunities to transform its tourism sector and harness its vast cultural and historical assets.

Olusegun Obasanjo

Africa

UN chief backs Obasanjo-led AU’s renewed peace efforts in Ethiopia

Mr Guterres endorsed the African Union’s mediation led by Olusegun Obasanjo as escalating fighting in northern Ethiopia raises fears of a broader conflict.

Super Eagles arrive in Bissau

Sport

Super Eagles arrive in Bissau ahead of AFCON 2027 qualifier

Only the group winner will secure an AFCON 2027 qualification ticket, with Tanzania already qualified as a co-host.