NAPOLI head coach Walter Mazzarri has expressed doubts about Victor Osimhen’s availability for the UEFA Champions League clash against Barcelona in midweek.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria striker only arrived back in Italy on Thursday after reaching last Sunday’s AFCON 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final with his national team, and he was not in Napoli’s squad for today’s 1-1 Serie A home draw with Genoa.
Osimhen played all of Nigeria’s seven matches at AFCON 2023, and is suffering from fatigue, Mazzarri explained after the Genoa fixture, in which Napoli needed a late equaliser to rescue a point.
“According to him and the doctors, the boy is at his lowest,” Mazzarri told DAZN, as reported by Reuters.
“Coming back from the Africa Cup of Nations it wouldn’t have been the best choice to risk it and let him play for a quarter of an hour to 20 minutes, so the doctor told me.”
Osimhen expended a lot of energy as a lone striker for the Super Eagles at AFCON 2023 and he had abdominal issues ahead of the semi-final against South Africa.
The 25-year-old striker, who was top scorer with 26 goals in Serie A last season as Napoli won their first Scudetto in 33 years, scored one goal at AFCON 2023 but his relentless running was key to helping the Super Eagles to the final, where they lost 2-1 to hosts Cote d’Ivoire.
“Today he had an anti-fatigue training, tomorrow he will train. We hope to have him ready for Barcelona (but) his presence will not be certain,” Mazzarri added.
“Since I arrived I’ve never had him. He was injured, I had to recover him gradually. Then there was the Africa Cup of Nations.”
Despite his struggles with injuries this season, Osimhen has delivered when fit, registering seven goals and two assists in 13 Serie A appearances as well as one goal and one assist in four Champions League matches.
Napoli host Barcelona on Wednesday night in the first leg of their round of 16 Champions League tie.
