Eric Chelle’s Super Eagles debut appears beset as one of the team’s reliable defenders, Semi Ajay at the weekend got injured and may be ruled out from the destiny-shaping World Cup qualifying matches with Rwanda and Zimbabwe next month.
Nigeria cannot afford to drop any of the obtainable six points in the duels with Rwanda and Zimbabwe as the team set to rebuild after a bad head start in the qualifying series.
Sports Village Square recalls that Ajayi scored Nigeria’s first goal in the 2026 World Cup qualifying series.
But the lanky defender has sustained an injury in West Brom’s 2-0 win over Oxford United.
The AFCON 2023 silver medal winner with Nigeria last year has been off the ball during the previous five months due to injury and just coming back to full action.
Last October, he suffered a hamstring injury, which kept him out of action until February.
The Super Eagles star returned to action, but coach Tony Mowbray was careful about his situation, reducing his minutes drastically.
However, Ajayi started the last two games for West Brom. Unfortunately, he got injured in their last game against Oxford United on Saturday.
The Super Eagles defender was wheeled off in the 41st minute and was replaced by former Everton man Mason Holgate.
It is believed that Ajayi suffered a relapse. However, he would have to undergo tests to ascertain the extent of the injury and how long he would spend on the treatment table.
As it is, Ajayi is a big doubt for the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers next month. But if it is not a serious issue, he would still have to be sidelined for two weeks at least.
The Super Eagles star has four weeks to return in time for the game. Even if the 31-year-old defender returns to action soon, West Brom will be cautious about Ajayi’s injury problems.
If Semi Ajayi does not make it back in time, it will be a big blow for him, as he is an integral member of the backline. Nonetheless, coach Eric Chelle will have to make do with the other players like Olisa Ndah, Benjamin Tanimu, and Gabriel Osho.
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