Izuchukwu Okosi
Serie A side Napoli will sue the Nigeria Football Federation should they go ahead and have the striker play at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
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To make matters worse for the NFF Osimhen was confirmed to be Covid-19 positive by the club on Thursday.
Napoli will consequently demand for compensation from the Amaju Pinnick led leadership of the Federation as the former Lille star is on Nigeria’s 28-man squad for the AFCON.
The striker had returned home for the Christmas break and was meant to undergo a specialist check-up with doctor Gianpaolo Tartaro tomorrow in Naples, the surgeon who operated on his multiple facial fractures last month.
However, it was announced today that Osimhen tested positive for COVID-19 and was not allowed to board a plane to Italy.
He also tested positive for COVID-19 when he went to Nigeria in December last year to celebrate his birthday.
Football Italia reports that Napoli aim to use the situation in order to force Nigeria to give up Osimhen for the Africa Cup of Nations, or at least leave him at the club until after the game with Juventus.
“With an agreement between Napoli and the Nigerian Federation, Osimhen could’ve played against Juventus on January 6 and then left immediately after the game,” club lawyer Enrico Lubrano told Radio Punto Nuovo.
“However, COVID complicates everything. The club can say the player is unavailable, but the situation must be verified by the Federation medic. What the FIFA rules do not state is the place where the medical verification is made.
“The FIFA rules note that if a player does not go on international duty because of injury, he cannot be used by his club during the same period that he would’ve played for his country, even if he recovers earlier.”
Lubrano was asked if there could potentially be a legal battle should Napoli ask for Osimhen to be examined by doctor Tartaro and Nigeria refuse to let him leave?
“It is a realistic scenario. Medicine is not an exact science, one doctor can say one thing and another medic give a different opinion.
“FIFA give the final word to the Nigerian Federation. We won’t rule out taking legal action against the Nigerian Federation, seeking compensation.”
Osimhen’s participation in the biennial competition has been a subject of controversy between his club, Napoli and Nigeria football house, NFF.
Osimhen who is holidaying in Nigeria’s Lagos was confirmed to have tested positive for COVID-19 by the club on Thursday.
The striker had returned home for the Christmas break and was meant to undergo a specialist check-up with doctor Gianpaolo Tartaro tomorrow in Naples, the surgeon who operated on his multiple facial fractures last month.
However, it was announced today (Thursday, 30 December 2021) that Osimhen tested positive for COVID-19 and was not allowed to board a plane towards Italy.
He also tested positive for COVID-19 when he went to Nigeria in December last year to celebrate his birthday.
Football Italia reports that Napoli aim to use the situation in order to force Nigeria to give up Osimhen for the Africa Cup of Nations, or at least leave him at the club until after the game with Juventus.
“With an agreement between Napoli and the Nigerian Federation, Osimhen could’ve played against Juventus on January 6 and then left immediately after the game,” club lawyer Enrico Lubrano told Radio Punto Nuovo.
“However, COVID complicates everything. The club can say the player is unavailable, but the situation must be verified by the Federation medic. What the FIFA rules do not state is the place where the medical verification is made.
“The FIFA rules note that if a player does not go on international duty because of injury, he cannot be used by his club during the same period that he would’ve played for his country, even if he recovers earlier.”
Lubrano was asked if there could potentially be a legal battle should Napoli ask for Osimhen to be examined by doctor Tartaro and Nigeria refuse to let him leave?
“It is a realistic scenario. Medicine is not an exact science, one doctor can say one thing and another medic give a different opinion.
“FIFA give the final word to the Nigerian Federation. We won’t rule out taking legal action against the Nigerian Federation, seeking compensation.”
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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