Why does Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen wear a mask on his face?
The short answer is… for his safety.
Nigeria players celebrate a goal against Angola in their Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal match on 2 February 2024. Picture: @CAF_Online/X
Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen wore a mask throughout the African Cup of Nations, but do you know why?
Fans watching this year’s tournament noticed his mask, referring to him as Batman.
The mask is the result of a facial injury that the 25-year-old suffered in November 2021.
He sustained a fractured eye socket during a Serie A match.
It took several months to heal, but two years on, Osimhen still wears the mask for matches, despite having fully recovered.
He recently explained that he would be wearing the mask for the rest of his career as it provides him with a sense of security.
"I have to wear the mask for the rest of my career because I have screws that actually pass through my jaws and face."
Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen discloses that his V09 mask is going to be a fixture throughout his football career because of two screws in his jaw and face, as a result of a previous injury. pic.twitter.com/4NGiyXm5dn
— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) February 8, 2024