Napoli manager Walter Mazzarri admitted that Victor Osimhen may be named among the substitutes for tonight’s UEFA Champions League clash against Braga.
Osimhen missed training on Monday to attend the CAF Awards 2023.
The 24-year-old won the Men’s Player of the Year award at the ceremony held in Marrakech, Morocco.
The Nigerian travelled back to Naples immediately after the ceremony.
Napoli need at least a point against Braga to guarantee a place in the Round of 16.
“Osimhen did what he had to,” Mazzarri was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.
“I will talk to him tomorrow and understand if he can start.”
The forward is expected to be named in Nigeria’s squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, which starts next January in Cote d’Ivoire.
The former Lille star could be away for around a month, depending on Nigeria’s progress in the competition.
Mazzarri hinted that the Serie A champions must be ready to cope with Osimhen’s absence.
“The AFCON is around the corner too, so we know we must do without him for a while, we have two good players like Giacomo Raspadori and Giovanni Simeone,” the Tuscan coach stated.
