Following Napoli striker Victor Osimhen’s post on social media that he’s now fit to play for Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations, which kicks off on January 9 in Cameroon, Super Eagles Interim Handler Austin Eguavoen must be grinning from ear to ear.
The Napoli forward was initially ruled out of the tournament after suffering a facial injury last November and undergoing subsequent surgeries.
However, the Napoli talisman announced on social media yesterday that he was now available for selection by Nigeria.
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“I am 100 percent ready to represent Nigeria at the AFCON 2021 unless I am not picked by the coaches,” Osimhen, 22, wrote on Twitter.
The post was quickly followed by Napoli’s tweets of several photos of Osimhen training alone, wearing a special black protective mask.
Osimhen had scored nine goals in 14 club appearances before undergoing surgery on his cheekbone and eye socket on November 23.
Osimhen was reported to have contacted both the Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, and the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, later yesterday evening to reassure them of his readiness to travel to Cameroon with the Nigerian team.
The news of his return to action must have greeted Eguavoen like a pleasant scent. Paul Onuachu, another Nigerian forward touted as a possible replacement for the Napoli star, suffered a hamstring injury on Sunday during his club’s Belgian league match and has been ruled out for one month.
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Although Eguavoen has yet to name his squad from the 40-man list submitted to the NFF by sacked German coach Gernot Rohr, the picture of those who will be in the team will begin to emerge when the Eagles gather in Abuja for final training before flying out to Yaounde to begin their campaign on January 11 against the Pharaohs of Egypt.
