Nigeria could be without several key players for the Super Eagles’ September Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers after a series of injuries hit players at their respective European clubs.
At least six Nigerian internationals are currently dealing with fitness problems, leaving head coach Eric Chelle with selection concerns as he prepares for the crucial international window.
One of the most serious cases involves Getafe midfielder Christantus Uche, whose season has been brought to an early end by a major knee injury.
Uche was injured during Getafe’s pre-season meeting with Monaco on August 6 after a challenge from Christian Mawissa. Medical examinations revealed damage to several ligaments and the meniscus in his right knee. He subsequently underwent surgery and is now facing a lengthy rehabilitation period.
The injury comes at an unfortunate time for the 23-year-old, who had been hoping to revive his fortunes at Getafe following an unsuccessful loan spell with Crystal Palace last season. Uche made 22 appearances for the Premier League club but played only 477 minutes before Palace opted not to pursue a permanent deal.
His recovery timeline means he will miss Nigeria’s September qualifiers and could also be unavailable for the AFCON tournament if the Super Eagles secure qualification.
Sadiq Added to Injury List
Umar Sadiq is another Nigerian forward whose fitness has become a concern ahead of the international break.
The Valencia striker picked up a hamstring injury in his right leg after featuring for the full 90 minutes in his side’s 3-1 win over Deportivo de La Coruña. Sadiq had scored in the game and was beginning to make a stronger case for a consistent starting role.
However, he arrived at training afterwards struggling with the injury and was subsequently examined by Valencia’s medical staff.
The Spanish club has begun a rehabilitation programme tailored to his condition but has not announced when he is expected to return. As a result, Sadiq’s involvement in Nigeria’s September fixtures remains unclear.
Dele-Bashiru Suffers Another Blow
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru has also been hit by an injury setback at Lazio.
The midfielder sustained a tear to his right thigh during Lazio’s 1-0 Serie A victory over Bologna. He was withdrawn in the 54th minute, with his replacement Davide Frattesi going on to score the decisive goal five minutes later.
Dele-Bashiru had made a positive impression during pre-season and appeared to be gaining the trust of Lazio manager Gennaro Gattuso as the new campaign got underway.
Initial expectations suggest that the 25-year-old could spend around three weeks recovering. That could see him miss games against Genoa, Udinese and AC Milan, with a further absence possible against Venezia.
His fitness will therefore be closely monitored by the Super Eagles ahead of the September international window.
Sanusi Set for Two-Month Layoff
Porto left-back Zaidu Sanusi is facing an extended spell on the sidelines after suffering an adductor injury.
The defender was forced to leave Porto’s 3-0 win over Académico de Viseu in the 17th minute, with Martim Fernandes taking his place.
Sanusi had featured in every minute of Porto’s league campaign before the injury and had become an important part of coach Francesco Farioli’s plans.
Farioli expressed concern over the severity of the problem immediately after the match, describing it as a serious injury.
With the estimated recovery period placed at about two months, Sanusi is expected to miss Nigeria’s September qualifiers, adding another headache to Chelle’s defensive options.
Nnadi’s Progress Interrupted
Tochukwu Nnadi is also dealing with an injury after picking up a knee problem during Marseille’s 2-0 loss to Monaco.
The 23-year-old had been working to establish himself under new Marseille boss Bruno Genesio but had not yet secured a regular starting position.
The latest setback could slow his efforts to break into the first team, particularly with the transfer window still open. A move to another club in search of more consistent playing time could also become more complicated while he is recovering.
Unlike some of the other cases, Nnadi’s absence is unlikely to have a major immediate impact on Nigeria, having only made his Super Eagles debut earlier this year.
For now, his main objective will be to complete his recovery, regain match fitness and continue his push for regular football at club level.
