2025 AFCON qualifiers: Super Eagles dealt major blow as Key defender ruled out for four months

West Bromwich Albion boss Carlos Corberan, has revealed Super Eagles defender, Semi Ajayi, will be out of action for about four months following surgery on a hamstring injury, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 30-year-old has been ever-present for the Albions this season, playing all twelve league games for the EFL Championships side.

The Hale End Academy graduate picked up a hamstring injury in his sides goalless draw against Cardiff City, and was withdrawn in the 79th minute to be replaced by Karlan Grant.

Further checks on Semi’s hamstring confirmed the lanky defender suffered a high-grade tear and following a surgery, the Nigerian will be out for four months, confirming his absence from this month’s AFCON 2025 qualifiers against the Republic of Benin and Rwanda, which is a big blow to Augustine Eguavoen’s plans.

Corberan has also lost fellow defenders Kyle Bartley and on-loan Paddy McNair. McNair went off with a hamstring injury just four minutes into the draw against Cardiff and the former Manchester United midfielder is set to miss two months of action while Bartley will miss between four and six weeks with a knee problem.

“We’re talking about three specific centre-backs who have had injuries at the same time, all within the same week. It will be a challenge for us,” the Spanish coach lamented, as revealed by BBC Sport.

In Ajayi’s absence, Calvin Bassey, Benjamin Tanimu, and William Troost-Ekong are reliable names the Super Eagles can bank on to fill the centre-back position. Olisah Ndah is also out of action for the year.

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