"A specialized surgical opinion has been requested to precisely define the duration of the unavailability," adds the FFR.
The maxillary bone is located in the jaw and the zygomatic bone is located higher at the cheekbone.
The Blues, who won Thursday the largest victory in their history (96-0) against the modest "Welwitschias", are at the top of Group A, after two successes against New Zealand (27-13) in the opening of the competition, then against Uruguay (27-12).
According to several media, Dupont, elected best player in the world in 2021, could be absent for at least a month, which would already deprive him of the last meeting of the group stage of the Blues against Italy, on October 6 in Lyon, as well as their quarter-final on the weekend of October 14-15.
A big blow for the XV of France, given as one of the favorites of the World Cup, which it hosts on its soil, alongside the world champions South Africa, Ireland, first world nation, and the All Blacks, three times crowned in this competition.
The injury came in the 46th minute of the match against the Welwitschias, Namibian captain Johan Deysel, thrown, hitting head to head Dupont.
The captain and master of the Blues for four years then set foot on the ground by touching his face, before calling the medical staff who affixed an ice pack on his right cheek.
Namibian fly-half Cliven Loubser (right) is tackled by French scrum-half Antoine Dupont (left) during the Rugby World Cup 2023 Pool A match between France and Namibia, in Marseille, September 21, 2023 © NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP
But the Stade Toulousain player seemed stunned, holding his head and rubbing his eyes before leaving the field, replaced by Baptiste Couilloud, in order to submit to a concussion protocol.
He left the Velodrome stadium shortly after to undergo tests at a local hospital.
© 2023 AFP