Why does Napoli striker Victor Osimhen wear a mask?
VICTOR OSIMHEN is one of the hottest strikers in European football.
The Napoli striker scored 26 club goals last season and helped Napoli lift the Serie A title - with Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United interested in signing him.
This year, Osimhen is hoping to guide Nigeria to their first Afcon title since 2013.
The Nigerian missed nine games at the end of 2021 due to a nasty injury
And as a result, he is often seen wearing a mask when he is on the field.
Why does Victor Osimhen wear a mask?
Osimhen, 25, fractured his eye socket during Napoli's 3-2 defeat at Inter Milan on November 24, 2021.
That was one of many facial fractures he suffered after a clash of heads with Milan Skriniar at the San Siro.
He had 18 metal screws and six plaques inserted to stabilise his facial features following the horror injury.
Osimhen returned to action for Napoli's 2-0 win at Bologna in Serie A on January 17, 2022, and was wearing a carbon fibre mask.
He originally found the mask irritating but has slowly become used to the protective item.
Does Osimhen still need to wear a mask if he is healed?
This is where it gets interesting.
He has actually been healthy for years, as revealed by Napoli team doctor Roberto Ruggiero in 2022.
The doctor said: "Osimhen is perfectly healed, he’s still wearing the protective mask because it gives him a sense of security, but he’s healed.
“He has his own balance and wants to wear it. Hopefully, this mask will be enough until he feels safe and takes it off.
"Not before then.
";I have still seen for a check, but as soon as he returns, we will have intense work to do.”