Super Eagles sweating on Onuachu

by Staff Reporter

Thursday May 09, 2024. 12:52

Paul Onuachu has handed Nigeria a slight concern after sustaining an injury in Trabzonspor’s 4-0 win over Fatih Karagumruk in the second leg of the Turkish Cup semi-finals on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old striker, who part of the Super Eagles squad that reached the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final earlier this year, landed awkwardly following an aerial challenge and immediately signalled for medical attention.

Onuachu was substituted as a result on the hour mark, having opened the scoring just six minutes earlier with a fine finish after meeting Thomas Meunier’s cross on the volley.

The Southampton loanee had only recently returned to action from month-long lay-off with a fractured arm and he scored a hat-trick against Gaziantep in the Super Lig on April 28.

Nigeria head coach Finidi George is already sweating on the fitness of Tyronne Ebuehi, Zaidu Sanusi, Moses Simon, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Jamilu Collins, while William Troost-Ekong is on the mend after undergoing surgery after the 2023 AFCON.

George’s side have two crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin next month as they go in search of their first win in Group C.

Trabzonspor head coach Abdullah Avci suggested after their 4-0 win that Onuachu’s injury might not be as serious as first feared, but George will be monitoring his situation in the weeks to come.

“We learned that it is not a serious condition, it is a spasm-like condition. I think he will be ready by the end of the week,” Avci was quoted as saying by Taka Gazete.