Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has again tested positive for COVID-19 a few days to the kick-off of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.
This will be the second time the 22-year-old Napoli star man will be testing positive for the virus in 2021.
Announcing the development in a statement on its official Twitter page on Thursday, his club Napoli said the Super Eagles forward has been asked to go into self-isolation.
“Napoli has announced that Victor Osimhen has tested positive for Covid-19 but is asymptomatic. Dr. Tartaro was due to perform a check-up on the player tomorrow,” the club via its official Twitter handle wrote.
“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,” it added.
Osimhen had been a big injury doubt for the African tourney after undergoing a major face surgery following an injury on his jaws and eyes sockets. Italian Surgeon had declared him unfit to participate in the mundial after his operations but Osimhen announced himself fit for AFCON days later, resuming training afterwards.
Super Eagles interim coach Austin Eguavoen subsequently named him on the 28-man squad travelling to Cameroon for the competition billed to start on January 9, 2022.
This development might hinder the Napoli talisman from featuring at the 2021 AFCON.
The Nigerian senior men’s football team are drawn in Group D alongside Egypt, Guinea-Bissau and Sudan and will open their campaign against the seven-time African champions Egypt on January 11.
