BREAKING : Again, Osimhen tests positive for COVID-19

Napoli announce their star striker, Victor Osimhen, won’t return to Italy as he tested positive for COVID before boarding from Nigeria.

Osimhen has been included in the Nigeria squad list for the Africa Cup of Nations but was expected to return to Naples to assess his cheekbone injury on Friday, December 31.

Osimhen had been ruled out for three months, but had he received the green light from doctors, he could have played in the Africa Cup of Nations wearing a protective mask.

However, the swab test he underwent in Nigeria before boarding today came back positive, so the player didn’t leave his native country.

The Partenopei wrote on their English Twitter account that doctor Gianpaolo Tartaro, the professor who had performed the surgery last month, would check the player today.

Nevertheless, they provided a different explanation on their Italian account, saying that the medical check has been postponed and that ‘local’ (Nigerian) authorities have issued an isolation order for the 23-year-old.

Osimhen had already tested positive for COVID one year ago, when he returned to Nigeria to celebrate his birthday.

…He needs miracle to be ready for AFCON – Doctor

Napoli’s doctor, Professor Gianpaolo Tartaro, insists Victor Osimhen needs a miracle to play a part in next year’s African Cup of Nations.

Osimhen is expected to team up with the Super Eagles ahead of the showdown in Cameroon, despite not be declared fit by the doctors.

Recall that Osimhen fractured his cheekbone and eye-socket last November and was operated upon by Doctor Tartaro.

He was expected to be in out of action for at least, but he made a dramatic return to training in early December, and has been named in Nigeria’s squad for the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

However, Osimhen is scheduled for another medical checkup in Naples this Friday in order to know extent of his healing via a computerized tomography (CT) scan.

“For the formation of the callus bone, according to world protocols, it takes from sixty to ninety days. Unless a biological miracle,” the surgeon told Corriere Dello Sport, when asked if the striker would be ready for AFCON.

“If he does not do the CT scan, we will not be able to dissolve the prognosis. Reduced fractures must consolidate: I repeat, for the formation of the callus, you have to wait two or three months unless a Christmas biological miracle: but biology is not a fan,” he said.

Osimhen helped Nigeria qualify for the tournament, scoring four times during the qualifiers.