Osimhen Finally Admits He’s Not ‘OK’ To Play At Africa Cup of Nations

SSC Napoli of Italy striker, Victor Osimhen has eventually admitted that he is not ‘okay’ to play at this month’s Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, due to his widely reportedly fitness issues, megasportsarena.com reports.

Aside a controversial report about his covid-19 infection on Thursday, the Chile 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup gold medalist and highest goals scorer is still battling to fully recover from a scary face injury he suffered in action with his club against Inter Milan in the Italian Serie A.

With his health issues turning into an issue for heated debate and Napoli threatening court action against Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should they go ahead to feature Osimhen at AFCON 2021, the player finally agreed to withdraw from the Eagles’ squad.

This much has been rvealed by the team’s acting coach, Augustine Eguavoen, who stressed that Osimhen really wanted to be part of the campaign in Cameroon and had initially pledged his loyalty to the squad, but the youngster had to bow to pressure from his club.

Aside pressure from the Naples-based side, ‘Egu’ further disclosed that the former Ultimate Strikers Academy of Lagos, VfL Wolfsburg of Germany, Sporting Charleroi of Belgium and Lille Metropole of France hitman admitted he was not fit enough to play at the impending competition.

The coach added that Osimhen confessed that he is deeply disappointed that he will not feature at AFCON 2021, but he had to console the enterprising striker that there is always a next time and buttressed the fact that health issues have to be taken very seriously is football matters.

Eguavoen narrated: “When he spoke to me yesterday, you could see that he was disappointed. He told me ‘coach, I love, but you have to understand for the fact that I’m not okay.

“’I don’t want to go to AFCON and not give a 100%, it won’t be good. I gave him few hours and I called him back again and the same story. You have to consider the young man’s health as well.

“It was a tough one, we spoke on three, four different occasions before at midnight we finally said there is always a tomorrow. It’s health first. It’s a pity Osimhen won’t be at the AFCON. He told me he will be there in spirit.”