Ahead Afcon 2021: Doctor explains technology behind Osimhen’s mask

Doctor Ruggiero, who headed the team that created Osimhen’s protective mask, has explained the technology behind Osimhen’s mask.

The medical practitioner also noted Osimhen’s desire to return to action at once. Still, he urged the Nigerian to let his wounds heal completely before taking to a football field.

“What material was used? Kevlar and carbon,” Ruggiero told Radio Marte as per Tutto Napoli.

“Osimhen is fine, highly motivated: if it depended on him, he would be on the pitch already today. Now Canon will decide when to make him join the team; then there are the times of calcification and healing.

“In my experience, when could he come back? It takes technical times to heal, usually 90 days. You need to have time for ossification. Let’s say we are half done now.”

Osimhen’s availability for Cameroon 2021 would be cheering news for Nigerian head coach Augustine Eguavoen. With nine goals in his last ten matches for the Super Eagles, Osimhen is the country’s leading striker and would ordinarily be the first name on Nigeria’s 28-man list for the Afcon.

Nigeria will kick off their Afcon campaign against seven-time champions Egypt on January 11 before trading tackles with Sudan four days later and Guinea-Bissau on January 19.

… Napoli may stop Osimhen

Super Eagles hitman, Victor Osimhen may miss the fast-approaching Africa Cup of Nations if report from Italy is anything to go by.

Napoli lawyer Mattia Grassani, according to report, warns clubs could sue to stop their players participating in the Africa Cup of Nations.

“Considering the epidemiological situation, there could be legal action, because this tournament takes away valuable resources from the clubs,” Napoli lawyer Grassani told CalcioNapoli24.

“It is a particular historic moment, so it would be different if we felt 99 per cent confident of the situation. The clubs invested a lot of money for signing players like Victor Osimhen, so if he were to become infected, that’d be tough to deal with.

“The first step would be legal action to prevent the call-up, then if there were concrete elements to sue because the health standards are not the same as in European competitions, then there could be more appeals to gain an exemption for Europe-based players.”

Cameroon has only circa five per cent of the population vaccinated, there are fears this could turn into a super-spreader event for the continent and the entire football world.

Clubs are increasingly concerned at the idea of letting their players participate in the competition, citing health worries.