According to Corriere del Mezzogiorno via Area Napoli, Victor Osimhen is angry and disappointed that he missed out on the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in addition to his complex recovery from injury.
The Napoli striker was originally included in Nigeria’s 28-man squad for the ongoing tournament in Cameroon but was forced to withdraw from the roster after testing positive for coronavirus whilst holidaying in Lagos.
Prior to pulling out of the squad, a club versus country row was brewing between Napoli and the Nigeria Football Federation over the availability of Osimhen for the tournament as he was rehabbing after undergoing surgery on his fractured cheekbone.
Without the 2015 FIFA U17 World Cup Golden Boot winner in the squad, Augustine Eguavoen’s team lacked firepower in attack as Taiwo Awoniyi and Umar Sadiq failed to deliver, missing chances upon chances.
Wearing a protective mask, Osimhen made his comeback from injury against Bologna on January 16, playing the last nineteen minutes of a 2-0 win against Bologna and also made a substitute appearance the following matchday versus Salernitana.
All things being equal, the 23-year-old will play his first game for the Super Eagles in 2022 when they take on Ghana in the 2022 World Cup playoff in March.