By Our Correspondent

Super Eagles of Nigeria and Napoli of Italy striker, Victor Osimhen is set to be operated open today and could miss the 202q Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON in Cameroon next year, www.bestchoicesports.com.ng can report

The former Lille of France top striker suffered multiple facial fractures after a clash of heads with Inter defender Milan Skriniar on Saturday.

The 22-year-old will remain out of action for at least one month, missing the next eight games for Napoli.

The Nigerian, who had to spend Sunday night under observation in a Milan hospital after the match at the San Siro, returned to Naples in the evening on Monday, Napoli said on its website.

“He will remain under observation and will be operated on tomorrow (Tuesday),” it added.

The 22-year-old managed to walk off the pitch, clearly dazed and with a swollen face, after being flattened in an aerial challenge with Milan Skriniar. Tests revealed “multiple displaced fractures of the left eye socket and cheekbone”.

No deadline has been communicated for Osimhen’s return to action but the Italian press has forecast at least a month’s absence, which would rule him out of Napoli’s fixtures for the rest of the year.

It could be even longer before he plays for the club again as he is due to play for Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon which runs through January with the final on February 6.

According to Calciomercato.com, he could return on December 19 against Milan, but it’s still difficult to make predictions about the actual date of his comeback.

Osimhen is Napoli’s best scorer this season with nine goals in 14 appearances in all competitions and Luciano Spalletti has two options to replace the injured striker.

One is Dries Mertens and the other one Andrea Petagna.

Nigeria will be seeking to win her fourth continental glory in Cameroon but she will need to navigate the hurdles posed by Egypt, Sudan, Guinea-Bissau in Group D of the preliminary stage.

The 2021 AFCON initially slated for 2021 was shifted to 2022 due to COVID-19 pandemic. It will kickoff from January 9th through February 6th, 2022.