Video: ‘I eat on right side of my face,’ Osimhen reveals jaw injury aftermath
Victor Osimhen
Abdullateef Fowewe
Victor Osimhen, Nigeria’s prominent football striker, disclosed the lasting effects of a severe jaw injury he sustained in 2021 during a Serie A match against Inter Milan, revealing that he now only eats on the right side of his face due to the extent of the damage.
Video: ‘I eat on right side of my face,’ Osimhen reveals jaw injury aftermath
The injury fractured multiple bones on the left side of his face, requiring complex surgery involving six plates and eighteen screws.
Osimhen said, “Now, I only eat on the right side of my face; I can’t eat through the other side,” stressing persistent nerve damage and functional limitation on the left side.
Osimhen described the injury as “a near-death injury” and detailed the surgery process as indispensable to continuing his football career despite the traumatic experience.
He recalled the moment of injury during the clash with Milan Skriniar and explained, “I hit my jaw on his head, and the bones on the left side of my face were cracked, everywhere”.
The surgery involved cutting through his jaw to remove bone fragments and carefully fix the fractures with screws and plates, leaving him with lasting effects that necessitate wearing a protective mask during matches for safety.
In a revealing conversation, he also expressed the emotional and physical struggles — sleepless nights, pain, and difficulty eating — but emphasised his resilience, saying, “I am a lion — and I know the kind of mentality I have,” which has helped him move forward despite the injury.
The mask is now a permanent fixture for his protection given the continued fragility of his jaw and the risk of further injury.
