Napoli surgeon, Professor Gianpaolo Tartaro has declared that it would only take a miracle for Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen to represent the senior national team at the fast-approaching 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
Osimhen, who recently made a return to training after successfully undergoing a surgery to correct multiple fractures in his face following a clash with Inter defender Milan Skriniar on November 21, was named in the 28-man list by Super Eagles interim coach, Austine Eguavoen for the bi-annual tournament.
According to Football Italia, Osimhen spent the Christmas break in Nigeria, but he’s expected to return to Naples on Friday for a medical check after a cheekbone surgery he underwent at the end of November.
Recall that Napoli ruled Osimhen out of action for three months, but the former Lille star said last week that he would be available to play for Nigeria at AFCON.
However, Tartaro, the surgeon who operated on Osimhen in November, has revealed that the Nigerian international needs time to rest before playing football.
“For the formation of the callus bone, according to world protocols, it takes from sixty to ninety days. Unless a biological miracle,” the surgeon was quoted as saying.
“If he does not do the CT scan, we will not be able to dissolve the prognosis. Reduced fractures must consolidate: I repeat, for the formation of the callus, you have to wait two or three months unless a Christmas biological miracle: but biology is not a fan.”
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COMMENTS
And the lawyers are threatening to sue Osimhe and the NFF if he participates in the Afcon..
My candid opinion is for Osimhe to stay back. Health first! He has world cup and more Afcon ahead of him…
Oh this not a good News at all
I think oshimen should not be forced back. Health first. We have capable replacement. Let dessers take his spot. Oshimen must learn to play to avoid injuries. Two major injuries in one year shows he still has a lot to learn in that area. Yes use your strength but use more brain. Stop rushing into danger zones unnecessarily.
The first back injury he sustained in Nigeria was unnecessary. Now this one. I wish you speedy recovery.
Both injuries are just unlucky. He was just going for a normal header and ended up clashing heads. Last year’s injury was a shoulder dislocation from landing awkwardly. Neither one was from him “rushing into danger zones” (not sure what that means). Osimhen’s style of play is speed, agility, and agression. If you take out the agression, he might not be the same player. Osimhen plays better when angry like Costa and Rooney in their prime. It’s great to watch. I hope the facial fracture doesn’t reduce his agression.
Well no Nwan, Osihmen should stay back according to medical advice. We can quickly call up lookman to take his place. That is the only SE winger with the potential to effectively replace VM soot the pains of VM premature retirement.
@ four four two if Lookman’s change of nationality has been approved how on earth did he not make a 28 man Nigerian roster??It’s unbelievable!unless the switch is still underway otherwise I see no basis for his exclusion.
Lookman’s ball sense,control movement and pace will quickly erase the clamour for Victor Moses.The likes of Lookman is what we need to achieve our goals because at a point we may come against dreaded African opponents you need very intelligent wingers like Lookman unlike Chukwueze who is predicable and was tamed twice against loses to Algeria.
If Eguavoen overlooked Lookman(unless his switch of nationality hasn’t been approved)then that would be criminal and careless.
Osimhen’s ambition to play against Juventus places Napoli, NFF at LoggerHead. He is playing against Juve on the 6th and would be on a chartered flight to Garoua to join the Afcon party. It is normal for
Tartaro to discourage the young man from playing for his country. That is what is happening. European clubs normally don’t wanna release their players for Afcon, they employ means like this.
Well said, all this are just means to stop him, we have our own surgeon , let osimhen report to camp and get tested by our own medical team, then we can decide if he is playing or not. The young man wish to play, his wish should be respected and not that of a selfish club.
This guy will be greatly missed. Not going to the Afcon with him means failing with our own is like 70 percent sure.
Osimhen can tactically excuse himself from AFCON 2021 and pray for World cup 2022. This will both save his club job & his career. He will be missed but health first.
Meanwhile, SE can cope; Coach Egus can cover up by calling Lookman, Dessers & Amoo. I mean, the SE needs ferocious wingers and attacking midfielders to cover up. We still have Dennis, Awoniyi, Dessers and Umar to standin for Osimhen. Also, SE need strong attacking compliments of the full backs in Aina/Ebuehi and Zaidu/Bassey.
I wish SE a victorious AFCON 2021!
SE needs strikers that are good both in the air (head) and feet like Dennis, Dessers, Awoniyi and maybe Umar(I have not seen him head in goals) and Iheanacho (suited more as both a Support Striker).
The team must know their specialists for set pieces (free kicks&corners) and penalties.
We must optimally utilize our chances. Cheers!
Csn should go to thisdsay newspaper for updates. Osimhen is in SE camp already.
Wether napoli like it or not osihmen will play afcon. This White Men should stop disrespecting us and our Continental turneo, a Player with a facial injury been treathened as if na boxing he want go do, while they risk Players with knees and Head injuries to Play their own. Didnt Ranieri and spalleti drank wine when italy won the last euro turneo? and some of u guys are playing good samaritan here. Do you think osihmen is in same level with The rest Nigeria strikers? Or you think afcon is a sex party? If osihmen cannot play let him come and sit on The bench! Napoli is looking for scudetto and Nigeria must pay for that, you guys are here playing to their riddim! Davis used glasses in that same italian league, ronaldo uses strong Medical drugs to play important games for club and country, they dont try this shit with brasil and argentina or their european counterpart only africa is where they poor in their shit, osimen will use face mask period! Even if napoli sacked him! Trust me The guy is Edo man, he is stuborn when it comes to injustice! Osihmen will be in afcon even if rain nor fall for italy bcos of him. Why do you think Nigerians play football? Answer is not bcos of money or clubs its bcos of the super eagles if you dont know now you know.
Nice comment…. you have just made my day…… very inspiring and thoughtful….. African players should be respected too like other continental players…… This European clubs tend to look down on African players as if they are doing them a favor because of the level of poverty in the continent.
@Collins, you do not demand respect, you earn it! As long as we continue to do things which are not right, the disrespect continues. Look at your FA, they are a total shambles. Even to invite players within a stipulated time frame is a task too Herculean. For osihmen, is it that we do not have medical experts in this country that can counter their argument? Is medicine practiced only in Italy? Is there not a standard period required for facial fractures to heal? Let the medical team at the Federation counter their stance to prove their mischief. The FA should scan the face of the player to confirm the extent to which the bone has healed. The player’s well being is most paramount. Those of us calling for him to feature at this afcon should desist (especially if we are not a medical authority on the matter). I would love to have victor there but not at the risk of his health. Victor is a passionate player , you can tell how he applies himself on the field but passion and sensibility at times do not go hand in hand.
Thank you at Collins Id, The surgeon is only talking on behalf of Napoli’s interest. Callus formation is already established by 3 weeks and the 3 months he mentioned is for long bones in the weight bearing regions like the legs, thighs, pelvis, spine and the feet. The range is generally 3 weeks to 3 months depending on factors such as the alignment of the fractured bones, bone size, dependent or pressure area, displaced fractures, mode of treatment (surgical of conservative)
The smaller the bones, the quicker the healing process and the lesser the daily pressure exerted on the healing callus the quicker the complete healing.. And the use of surgical treatment with pins, screws & plates assist further in ensuring great alignment of the bones hence less amount of callus formation is required to form a bridge between the fractured bones to heal quicker.
I know all these because am a specialist surgeon in a first world country. Don’t allow these white people to bully Nigeria into submission on this issue. Why did Napoli refused that Osimhen should come over to Nigeria and be assessed by the Orthopaedic Specialists in Lagos, rather they said they are willing to pay the SE team Doctors to fly to Italy for the assessment to be done in Naples
Below was my earlier submission on CSN about this issue:
@Pompei, @Deo and @Richie, I maintained that Osimhen is fully fit to participate in AFCON because his injury is healed and all he needs is the protective face mask to protect against direct trauma.
Don’t allow Napoli to bully him or Nigeria with their gimmick just because he’s an African. I know what am talking about as I am specialist surgeon myself.
Did you guys forget so soon the Kevin De Bruyne injury on 29th May 2021 during Champions league final, he had surgery on 2nd June and was fit to play Belgium’s 2nd group game on 17th June 2021 (that was just a 2 week recovery period)
De Bruyne, 29, suffered fractures to his nose and left eye socket during Manchester City’s 1-0 loss to Chelsea in last Saturday’s Champions League final and Martinez had previously said he would not need surgery.
During a press conference on Saturday, Martinez said De Bruyne “will not need a long recovery” following the operation but remains a doubt for Belgium’s opening game of this summer’s European Championship on June 12.
Thumbs up man @ Dr Banks.
This is why Dessers was needed instead of a useless 4th goalkeeper.
@ Chima we do not need another striker should Osimhen gets ruled out.
Already we have Umar,Dennis,Iheanacho,Awoniyi,Ighalo and Probably Musa who could also play as a striker so why add another to the list?
I think we should add Lookman or Ejaria if they are given the all clear to represent Nigeria.
OSIMENEGOALS is playing at AFCON period. All these media tantrum will fade out like mirrage soonest. IF THERE WAS NO AFCON, NAPOLI WOULD HAVE BEEN PLAYING HIM LONG TIME AND ALL THESE TALK OF SAFETY WOULDN’T HAVE ARISE. Looking at the time they claim to expect him to return;end of January when AFCON will be coming to a close, tells any intelligent person everything.
The doctors have already said he needs about 3months to properly recuperate. But the nff want him at the afcon to watch the matches from the bench and to occupy space and probably pick up a medal if the team wins any. Even though he wont play.
They should listen to the advise of his doctors and let the young man stay back at his club and heal properly and not risk getting him seriously injured by playing him to early at the afcon.
Facial injuries heal fully in 6 weeks, if oshimen had maxillofacial fracture and was operated by 22nd of November (I guess), then 46 days from that time is January 7. So he has time to play if he uses his facial mask.
Osimhen has already declared himself fit for the Afcon. This is one tournament he doesn’t want to miss but some of us are praying that he knows what he is doing. Footballers do play with facemasks but even at that, their injuries would have healed sufficiently enough for the facemask to offer adequate protection. If Osimhen aggravates his injury, he may have to spend more time in the sidelines for club and country. It appears that is a chance he is will to take, good luck to him. He has been through a lot of hard times during his short stay at Napoli, I am just looking out for his career longevity. Ruling himself out of the Afcon might not be an unwise move for his overall physical and mental health.
Guys ..Nff and Napoli have come to an agreement…..Osimhen will in be in Afcon….Victor is in Abuja now but will fly back to Italy on Thursday for the Nap-Juve match then fly to Cameroon straight on 7th.
Thumbs up man @ Dr Banks. It’s really sad to see how these white folks treat anything or anyone that is African.
Yes our corrupt leaders are a bile factor to all of these but we as individuals must refused to allow ourselves be treated with such disdain. This is why I have always and will continue to be a fan of Emmanuel Dennis even when people might think he is unmanageable. I am very much his kinda person. I see Osimene has such also. Such people has a fire in them that must never be quenched otherwise they become like over ripe fried dodo.
They take life happenings as their cross and carry on happily never regretting anything because they only choose to do what is pleasing to God and their soul spirit.
Injuries can come at anytime even inside our home, so Napoli and their brainwashing doctors should cling to their balls while Osimene scores goals for Nigeria @ AFCON n afterwards return to lead Napoli to win the league n many more.
For me, I wish Osimhen will be there at the Afcon. Simply because his presence increase our chances of success. We all know the quality he brings.
BUT I WILL NEVER, EVER, SUPPORT THE IDEA THAT HE SHOULD PLAY FOOTBALL AT THE RISK OF HIS LIFE AND HEALTH. NEVER!
If he is to play, our officials should ensure that he is fully healed and medically fit to play.
God forbid, if Osimhen is foolishly rushed into action and aggravates the injury in such a way that we lose out on having him for the world cup play offs, is that when our eyes will clear?
I don talk my own. To your tents, O Israel!
Dr Banks my brother,
I posted this comment on a previous thread, but you have not given me a satisfactory reply. A reply that allays my fears regarding Osimhen’s injury.
“If it was up to me, I would seek assurance that his injury is fully healed.
As a striker, he needs to head the ball repeatedly. Can his facial bones withstand the impact of him doing that? Can his facial bones withstand the impact if he clashes heads with another defender? What of an elbow to the cheek bone? A high kick to the face from an opposing player? The opposing goalie accidentally punching him in the face while trying to punch the ball out? Are his facial bones ready to sustain such contact?
Every footballer faces a normal allowable risk when they take to the pitch.
If the risk to Osimhen’s life and health exceeds the normal allowable risk because he is not fully healed, then Osimhen is advised to wait until he is ready”.
You said his face mask protects him from all that. But have you taken into account that African football is the most robust and rugged type in the world? An Osimhen that is not fully healed being tackled and assaulted by African defenders? We need to proceed with caution here.
The suggestion that Prof Tartaro is rendering a professional opinion to protect the interests of Napoli is ludicrous, to say the list.
For one, he is not a Napoli employee, as far as I know. So he is not obligated or expected to protect Napoli’s interests.
Dr. Banks, as a professional, a doctor for that matter, you should know the seriousness of a rendered professional opinion. A negligent or incompetent opinion can tarnish a professional’s hard earned reputation! And for a professional like a surgeon, REPUTAION IS EVERYTHING!
Will Prof. Tartaro risk his reputation and his livelihood to promote the interests of Napoli? As I mentioned earlier, they are not even his employer! He is a third party, and is independent, so he is obligated to render an independent, accurate and unbiased opinion!
You so nonchalantly dismiss the professional opinion of a surgeon! Una get mind for this forum sha! I twale for una oooo!
Dr. Banks, with all due respect, are you a peer or equal to Prof. Tartaro?
Are you more knowledgeable in this subject and/or more experienced than he is?
If the answers to my questions are no (and there is no shame in that), then let us weigh Prof. Tartaro’s words with more care and caution, instead of carelessly dismissing them!
Measuring the risk Osimhen faces is something a surgeon can do. He can simulate football match situations, and estimate the risk level of Osimhen. If he determines that the risk is unacceptable, we must exclude Osimhen from the Afcon. His life and health come first.
Couldn’t have said it better. The players health is most important. There will be plenty more afcons and world cups.
Fantastic non sentimental submission. Thanks Pompei.
Sorry bro I wrote a lengthy explanation and answer to your questions but it was not posted by CSN, not sure maybe because it was too long. Pity I didn’t save it before posting
Afcon title is worth more than wcup quater final if u dont know, kno! This is how rohr frustrated how olimpic team, if our soldiers are going to fight bokoharam why you dont advice them to stay and wait for The nest world war. Football bring us happiness, and our players should be dedicated like our soldiers, they are all humans and have same one lives, same lóve for Life and family, they represent us and our interest comes before theirs that is The rule of engagment.
Just Wow!”Our interest comes first before theirs”.Are you for real? If that was your son, would you risk his health for your entertainment?
See the website of Professor Gianpaolo Tartaro, the Italian surgeon whose professional opinion has been rendered worthless by some folks here!
https://gianpaolotartaro.it/
Of course, as a human, his opinions are not infallible.
But given his credentials and years of experience, it would not be prudent to dispassionately dismiss his professional opinion, without due process and care.
Boko Haram represents a direct threat to life and property of Nigerians at large.
Comparing Boko Haram to Afcon is irrational and even silly.
If we don’t win the Afcon, is your life and property at risk?
Golden Child asked you a question. Please answer honestly and truthfully.
IF OSIMHEN WAS YOUR SON, WOULD YOU RISK HIS LIFE AND HIS HEALTH FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT?
Typically, professionals worldwide have a peer review periodically. A peer or equal in their field comes to their practice, and evaluates their work, to verify that the quality control is up to acceptable standards.
Even if Prof. Tartaro is biased towards Napoli, given that they are obviously a huge client, will he risk his reputation and license to practice, just to promote Napoli’s interests regarding Osimhen? I doubt that very much!
His reputation is his bread and butter. Napoli can’t pay him enough to falsify his opinion. He has no choice than to say the truth, as he sees it. Of course, his version of truth is not infallible, but it is his version anyway.
What the Italian doctor did about callous formation of facial bone is untrue.
I am an orthopaedic resident, I can tell you for free that even long bones such as humerus, ulna and radius heal within 6 weeks, not to take of facial fractures.
His statement would have been correct if you are taking of the bones in the thigh, leg and feet.
The rationale behind this after from weight bearing highlighted by my colleague earlier is the blood supply and the bone type (either spongy or compact). The upper part of the body has more blood supply when compared with that of the lower part ( hip downwards), therefore all bones in this area including the pelvic and spine (which are spongy by nature) heal in six weeks while all the bones remaining heal in 3 months all this being equal.
@Adelami Micheal, we have access to Prof Tartaro’s CV via his website. Can you upload yours, so we can do a peer review, please?
In addition to Adelami Michael,
all the stages of broken bone repair are important. I have a kidhealth here, the reparative stage starts within a week of the injury. A soft callus, a type of soft bone replaces the blood clot that formed in the inflammatory stage which immediately the accident happened. The callus holds the bone together, but isn’t strong enough for the body part to be used.
Over the next few weeks, the soft callus becomes harder. By about 2–6 weeks, this hard callus is strong enough for the body part to be used.
All you need is to CT scan or an x-ray to be interpreted by a radiologist, not even a surgeon. Osimhen going by this anology is fit but let’s wait and see if he plays in our game against Juventus.
Whether osimhen is fit to play or not. He should be released for us to make our own medical assessment on him. 2010 WC when Mikel was injured, chelsea still released him and at the end of the day Nigeria dropped him when we saw he was not fit for the tournament. Last euros maguire was injured, England still included him in their team bcos they know he was on the process of full recovery. We have the best medical personnel in the world that Napoli were aware. When Vicky had shoulder injury, it would have been worst if not for the medical experts we have in Nigeria. Nobody should bullshit us. Release oshimhen and we will make our own medical assessment on him.