Semi Ajayi sidelined due to a severe hamstring injury that will keep the Super Eagles defender off the pitch for about 112 days, handing the Nigerian side yet another sad news.
Ajayi sustained the injury during West Bromwich Albion’s recent goalless draw against Cardiff City in the Championship, Footballrover reports.
The mishap occurred in the dying moments of the match, prompting an immediate substitution as Ajayi was replaced by Mason Holgate.
With this unfortunate blow, Ajayi will miss the remaining fixtures for the Super Eagles in 2024, including key AFCON qualifiers against Benin and Rwanda.
The impact of Ajayi’s absence on the Super Eagles and West Brom
West Brom head coach Carlos Corberán confirmed on Thursday that Ajayi requires surgery to address the injury effectively.
Corberán explained that the injury was more severe than initially anticipated, resulting from an accidental incident that caused a muscle rupture.
He emphasised that while the surgery may delay recovery by a couple of weeks, it is essential to minimise the risk of future injuries.
“Semi, unfortunately, has suffered a more difficult injury. It was an action, which was an accident. In this action, he has broken his muscle in two parts.
The best way to manage this injury is with surgery because surgery helps reduce the risk of suffering this type of injury again.
There are injuries that affect the tendon in specific areas where you have to have surgery. The surgery delays things by around two weeks, but it also reduces the risk of the injury reoccurring.
“Returning in about 16 weeks is the approximate time when you have this type of surgery,” the West Brom coach said.
Ajayi’s prolonged absence compounds West Brom’s existing injury woes, leaving the Super Eagles at a critical juncture as they strive for qualification to the 2025 AFCON.
Since debuting for Nigeria in 2018, Ajayi has been a vital asset, making 41 appearances and contributing significantly to the national team’s success.
Recall that Ejuke Chidera had initially been ruled out of the AFCON clash due to injury as well.
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