AFCON: l may wear mask for rest of my career – Osimhen

By Stephen Asaba-ase

Napoli forward, Victor Osimhen, has stated that he may wear a mask for the rest of his career for safety reasons.

It would be recalled that Osimhen suffered a nasty facial injury, in a clash of heads with Milan Skriniar during a Serie A game between Napoli and Inter Milan on November 21, 2021.

It was to the greatest shock of his fans that he returned from the injury with a protective mask that had now become a sort of trademark such that it has become popular among the Azzurri fans.

Addressing a reporter in an interview with Brilla FM, Osimhen who is currently on national duty with the Super Eagles at the African Cup of Nations, AFCON, in Ivory Coast, said it is dangerous for him to play without his mask.

He narrated that even with the mask he got a bloody face after the opposition’s goalkeeper hit his face the last match he played against Cagliari.

“I have to wear the mask for the rest of my career because I have screws that pass through my jaws and face. I still have them till now,” he said.

“The last match I played against Cagliari — when I headed the ball, I had blood on my face, and the goalkeeper also hit my face, and there was blood that was even with the mask on.

“So it is really dangerous for me to play without using the mask, of course.”