Victor Osimhen, a forward for the Super Eagles and Galatasaray, has discussed the long-term effects of his 2021 face injury and the reasons he continues to wear a protective mask four years later.
The 26-year-old told Turkish publication Fanatik in a video posted on X on Tuesday that the injury’s nerve damage still interferes with his eating.
Recalling the incident, he said, “A cross came in from the wing. I went up for the header, and he pulled his head back. It wasn’t intentional, but I hit his skull with my chin and the bone shattered everywhere.
“They took me to a hospital in Milan. First, they checked with X-ray, then they ordered an MRI. The doctor said, ‘You need surgery.’ I refused at first — ‘There’s no way I’m having surgery.’ But it was the only way to continue playing football. I had no choice.”
He added, “I still feel numbness and sometimes pain. When I smile, only one side of my mouth moves fully. Eating is the biggest daily reminder; food falls out if I try to use the left side.”
“Now, I only eat on the right side of my face,” he said. “I can’t eat through the other side. The left side doesn’t function properly anymore.”
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