Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has revealed the lasting impact of a severe facial injury. He suffered the career-threatening blow during his time at Napoli. Osimhen described the ordeal as something he will never forget.

Osimhen arrived in Italy with high expectations. He had just completed a multi-million euro transfer from Lille. However, his initial year was plagued by injuries, hindering his momentum.

The Fateful Collision

The turning point in his career came the following season. It happened during a league match at the San Siro. Napoli faced a 3-2 loss against Inter Milan. During the game, Osimhen challenged for an aerial ball with Milan Skriniar.

The collision was brutal. Osimhen’s jaw struck the defender’s head. This left him with a concussion. He was briefly unconscious before being removed from the pitch.

Further scans revealed a terrifying reality. His left eye had slipped from its socket. His jaw was broken. Several other bones in his face were shattered.

A Difficult Recovery

Surgeons worked to reconstruct the damaged area. They inserted six plates and eighteen screws. He spent three months away from football. The injury also ruled him out of Nigeria’s AFCON 2021 campaign.

Looking back, Osimhen described it as one of the toughest battles of his life.

“That injury was like a near-death injury,” the 2023 CAF Player of the Year shared. His quotes were published by One Football. “I am the only one who felt it. I can only speak about how I felt because it was my face and body.”

He continued, “When the scan came out, I had fractured many bones. They had to remove and fix them inside again. I have about 18 screws under my jaw. I went through a lot.”

“There were many sleepless nights. I could not sleep. I could not eat due to the pain. But I am a lion. I know the kind of mentality I possess.”

“To be able to stand up without using the stretcher and walk off the pitch on my own, then I knew I could handle it.”

Living with the Injury

Osimhen now plays with a protective mask. He will continue to do so for the rest of his career. Away from the cameras, the long-term effects still shape his daily life.

In a conversation with MMA champion Kerim Engizek, the striker revealed a permanent change. He can only chew on one side of his mouth. This avoids pressure on the metal implants.

“It happened in 2021. We were playing against Inter Milan,” Osimhen explained. “There was this guy [Milan Skriniar]. The ball came through the flank. I was trying to head the ball. He was bringing his head behind me. He didn’t see the whole picture.”

“So, I hit my jaw on his head. The bones on the left side of my face were cracked, everywhere. I went to the hospital in Milan. They initially checked through X-Ray before an MRI scan.”

“When he checked, he told me, ‘Man, you need surgery.’ I told him, ‘No chance, I don’t do surgeries.’”

The medical team insisted. Surgery was the only way he could continue playing football.

“He then told me I had to do it. I didn’t want it because they would have to cut through my face. But he told me if I wanted to continue to play football, that was the only way,” he said.

“I told him a cut on my face wouldn’t be possible, as there was already a scar. He then gave me a second option. The stitches would go through my jaw, and I agreed to that.”

“Now, I only eat on the right side of my face. I can’t eat through the other side. There are several pieces of metal on that side holding it all together, so I can’t risk it.”

Despite these restrictions, Osimhen plays with the same fiery intensity. It defines his career. He remains a powerful presence in the air. He has scored 41 headed goals out of his 191 career strikes.