My 2021 facial injury still affects how I eat — Osimhen

Super Eagles and Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen has opened up about the lingering impact of the facial injury he sustained in 2021, explaining why he still wears his protective mask nearly four years later.

In a video shared on X on Tuesday by user 𝐀𝐬𝐚𝐤𝐲𝐆𝐑𝐍, the 26-year-old told Turkish outlet Fanatik that nerve damage from the incident continues to affect his daily life, including how he eats.

“Now I only eat on the right side of my face,” he said. “I can’t chew from the other side. The left side doesn’t function properly anymore.”

Osimhen suffered the injury in November 2021 during a Serie A clash between Napoli and Inter Milan after colliding with Milan Škriniar. He sustained multiple fractures — including a broken cheekbone and eye socket — and required reconstructive surgery involving 18 screws and a titanium plate.

Doctors initially feared he might lose vision in his left eye. Although he recovered, Osimhen said he still experiences numbness and reduced movement on the left side of his face.

Recalling the moment of impact, he said: “A cross came in from the wing. I jumped for a header, and he pulled his head back. It wasn’t intentional, but I hit his skull with my chin and the bone shattered. At the hospital, the doctor said I needed surgery. I refused at first, but it was the only way to continue playing football.”

He added that he still feels occasional pain and that the effects show in his daily activities: “When I smile, only one side of my mouth moves fully. Eating is the biggest reminder — food falls out if I try to use the left side.”

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Osimhen, now on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli, has scored 12 goals and provided five assists in 15 appearances across all competitions this season.

The protective mask prescribed after surgery remains essential due to the long-term damage from the injury.