The Parthenopeans have confirmed the 23-year-old has fully recovered and he will head back to Naples to resume training
Nigeria international Victor Osimhen is expected to return to Italy after testing negative for Covid-19.
The 23-year-old striker, who currently turns out for Serie A giants Napoli, was among players named in the provisional squad for Nigeria ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations set to kick off in Cameroon on Sunday.
However, on reaching Nigeria, the player tested positive for Covid-19 and was asked to isolate, forcing interim coach Austin Eguavoen to replace him with winger Henry Onyekuru, who turns out for Greek Super League club Olympiacos.
Osimhen’s club Napoli have now confirmed the player will return to Naples in the next few hours to begin training in readiness for the next Serie A matches.
“Victor tested negative for Covid-19: he will return to Italy in the next few hours,” the club confirmed on their social media pages.
He was among the players who could not make the Super Eagles squad for the 33rd edition of the African competition. Striker Emmanuel Dennis was also replaced after his Premier League club refused to release him.
Osimhen is yet to play for Napoli since November 21, 2021, when he picked up an injury during the Parthenopeans’ 3-2 defeat against Inter Milan.
The Super Eagles star had played for 55 minutes in the fixture at San Siro but he could not complete the game due to an injury following a clash of heads with Inter’s Milan Skriniar and was replaced by Andrea Petagna.
In a recent interview, Eguavoen admitted the absence of Osimhen and Dennis will be a big miss for Nigeria.
“The only thing is to change the style of play because the personnel is not there as we expected,” Eguavoen said. “Definitely Victor Osimhen is a big miss, Emmanuel Dennis is in form, also a big miss.”
The Super Eagles have been pooled in Group D of the competition alongside Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, and Sudan and they will begin their campaign against the Pharaohs at Roumde Adjia Stadium on Tuesday.
They will then face Sudan’s Falcons of Jediane on January 15 and wind up their group matches with a clash against the Djurtus on January 19.
AC Milan star Ibrahimovic equals Ronaldo goal record with latest Serie A strike against Venezia
The Swede took his tally of league goals for the season to eight from 13 appearances by opening the scoring at Pier Luigi Penzo Stadium
AC Milan star Zlatan Ibrahimovic has equalled a unique goals record initially set by Cristiano Ronaldo after his latest Serie A strike against Venezia.
Ibrahimovic has been widely regarded as one of the best centre-forwards in Europe throughout his 22-year career, and is showing no signs of slowing down yet despite turning the ripe old age of 40.
Milan brought Ibrahimovic back to the club for a second spell in January 2020 and he has hit 36 goals since then, with his most recent effort coming in a 3-0 win at Venezia on Sunday.
The Sweden international opened the scoring at Pier Luigi Penzo Stadium with just two minutes on the clock, turning home a Rafael Leao cross from close range in trademark fashion.
Ibrahimovic has now scored against 80 different clubs across Europe’s major leagues, becoming the second man to achieve the feat alongside Ronaldo.
The Portuguese, who returned to Old Trafford from Juventus in the summer after a three-year stint in Italy, reached that mark first when he scored in Manchester United’s 3-1 win against Burnley on December 30.
Ibrahimovic’s overall career record
Ibrahimovic began his career at Malmo in 1999 and has since played for another seven clubs, with a stint at the LA Galaxy marking his only experience outside of European football.
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The towering Swede has also enjoyed successful spells at Ajax, Juventus, Inter, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United, scoring 492 goals in 802 games overall.
Ibrahimovic will likely have the chance to increase his impressive haul when Milan take on Genoa in a Coppa Italia round of 16 tie on Thursday.
