On loan Monaco forward Henry Onyekuru has been called up as a replacement for Napoli forward Victor Osimhen in the squad of the senior national team of Nigeria for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
Reports from the media in Greece has it that Onyekuru was handed a call up to the Nigerian team as a replacement for Osimhen who is still recuperating from a facial injury.
Aside the injury, the 23 year old also tested positive for Covid 19 which will require a seven days isolation period ahead of the start of the tournament in Cameroon in ten days time.
Already Napoli doctor Gianpaolo Tartaro who oeprated the forward has said the recovery date for him still remains 90 days making him unavailable to play for Nigeria at the tournament.
“For the formation of the callus bone, according to world protocols, it takes from sixty to ninety days. Unless a biological miracle,” the plastic surgeon told Corriere Dello Sport, as per Tutto Napoli.
“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.”
The technical crew of the team led by interim coach Austine Eguavoen will now have to prepare for the tournament without Osimhen who was the top scorer for the team during the qualifiers.
For now Almeria striker Sadiq Umar is favourite to lead the line for the Nigerian team according to sources with the lanky striker arriving the camp of the team earlier today. He however faces stiff competition from Taiwo Awoniyi of Bundesliga side Union Berlin who is also in camp.
