Serie A champions Napoli have delivered a blow to the Nigerian national team as they confirm that their star striker, Victor Osimhen, will miss the upcoming friendlies against Ghana and Mali due to injury, MySportDab Reports,
Osimhen’s absence was confirmed following Napoli’s recent 1-1 draw with Inter Milan, where he remained on the bench throughout the match.
Reports suggest that Osimhen had barely trained in the days leading up to the game due to an inflammation of an old injury scar. Napoli’s manager, Francesco Calzona, addressed concerns about Osimhen’s fitness, indicating that he has yet to fully recover from the injury.
The news of Osimhen’s absence comes as a blow to Nigeria, who will now be without the services of one of their key players for the friendlies.
Additionally, Napoli’s Hamed Junior Traore and Jesper Lindstrom will also miss international duty for the Ivory Coast and Denmark, respectively, further depleting the squad.
Injuries have also plagued the Super Eagles’ camp, with Taiwo Awoniyi, Tyronne Ebuehi, and Gabriel Osho ruled out of the friendlies due to various fitness concerns.
Despite these setbacks, the Nigerian national team has called up a strong contingent of players for the upcoming matches.
A total of 22 players have already reported to the training camp in Marrakesh, Morocco, in preparation for the friendlies against Ghana and Mali.
Among the call-ups are notable names such as Cyriel Dessers, Nathan Tella, Jamilu Collins, and Sadiq Umar, all of whom have been recalled after missing out on the recent Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.
With Osimhen’s absence, Nigeria will be looking to other players to step up and fill the void in attack against their upcoming opponents. The friendlies against Ghana and Mali present an opportunity for the Super Eagles to test their squad depth and build momentum ahead of future competitions.
