Tuesday, November 23, 2021 at 5:03 PM• Jordi Tomasowa • Last update: 18:13

Victor Osimhen will be sidelined for the next three months due to a medical procedure, Napoli reports via official club channels. The Nigerian attacker collided hard with Milan Skriniar during the Serie A game against Internazionale (3-2 loss) on Sunday, breaking his cheekbone and his eye socket. Due to the operation, Osimhen misses the Africa Cup, which is scheduled for January and February, so that Cyriel Dessers may hope for a call from the Nigerian national coach.

Osimhen was unable to continue the match against Inter after the clash with Skriniar. Because of fractures in his cheekbone and eye socket, the attacker underwent surgery on Tuesday morning, in which metal plates and screws were applied to the attacker’s face. The Nigerian is expected to be out of circulation for three months, as a result of which the upcoming edition of the Africa Cup, which takes place from January 9 to February 6, will pass him by. During the last international match, the attacker was still accurate for Nigeria during World Cup qualifiers against Liberia (0-2 win) and Cape Verde (1-1).

The absence of Osimhen is a big loss for national coach Gernot Rohr, but may offer perspective for Dessers, who is having a strong season at Feyenoord, albeit as a substitute. The Nigerian attacker with Belgian roots made his debut for the Nigeria national team last year in a friendly against Tunisia. Four days earlier, he was also in the match selection for the friendly against Algeria, but stayed on the bench for ninety minutes. In the vanguard, Rohr also has a choice of Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City) and Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk).

Osimhen’s long absence is not only inconvenient for Rohr. The loss of the attacker will also be great for Napoli in the battle for the national title. Osimhen has been in excellent form this season and has scored nine goals in fourteen games. In Serie A, his counter so far stands at five hits. Lost due to the defeat against Internazionale last Sunday i Partenopei their unbeaten status in Serie A. With 32 points from 13 matches, Napoli keeps AC Milan behind on goal difference for the time being. Inter follows in third place with four points less.