AFCON 2021: Blow For Nigeria As Osimhen Tests Positive For Coronavirus

Victor Osimhen has tested positive for coronavirus, his Italian club Napoli announced on Thursday, throwing the striker’s participation at the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations into further doubt.

Napoli announced the diagnosis on their official Twitter, adding that the player who is currently asymptomatic would be assessed further by the club doctor on Friday but would need to self-isolate in the meantime.

“Consequently, the local authorities have ordered that Osimhen self-isolate and the check-up will be rescheduled after he has tested negative and his period of isolation ends,” the club said.

The development could be a severe setback for Nigeria who were already at loggerheads with Napoli over Osimhen’s place at the AFCON.

The striker is currently working his way back to full fitness after surgery on a facial injury but declared himself available to play for the three-time African champions at the tournament which commences on 9 January in Cameroon.

Napoli have said Osimhen won’t be fit to play at the AFCON and ordered the striker back to Italy from his holidays in Nigeria for medical evaluation where his positive status was confirmed.

The striker has been named in Nigeria’s 28-man squad for Cameroon but with him being expected to self-isolate for up to ten days, his participation at the tournament is now in serious doubt.

It would mark the second time Osimhen would contract the virus in Nigeria after testing positive for the virus during a similar period last year while home on holiday.