Super Eagles head coach Eric Sekhou Chelle has suffered another blow ahead of Nigeria’s World Cup qualifiers in September, Soccernet.ng reports.
The three-time AFCON Champions are set to take on South Africa and Rwanda next month as they look to claim a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but could be without their talisman in the process.
Nigeria’s Unity Cup hero, Cyriel Kolawole Dessers, picked up a nasty injury in Rangers’ UEFA Champions League qualification clash against Viktoria Plzen at the Doosan Arena, but the striker is set to return to action next week.
However, another defender has suffered an injury. Hull City’s centre-back Semi Ajayi has torn his hamstring for the third time in nine months.
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The 31-year-old initially tore his hamstring back in November when he was at West Brom. The same injury recurred during his recovery process in February.
He returned to full fitness towards the end of the season, but his injury problems convinced the Baggies hierarchy against renewing a deal for Ajayi.
Ajayi delivered a dominant display in Hull City’s goalless draw against Coventry City on Saturday, and reported some discomfort in his hamstring after the game in the Midlands.
As per Hull Daily Mail, the ex-Arsenal man will miss between four to six weeks of football action as he recuperates from another hamstring tear.
What Semi Ajayi‘s injury means for Eric Chelle‘s Super Eagles
The news comes as a big blow to the Tigers, to Ajayi, and to the head coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria. This is because the injury rules out one of his trusted defenders from participating in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Nigeria have important games against Rwanda and South Africa and needs all hands on deck, although there’s a pool of options to choose from aside from William Troost-Ekong and Calvin Bassey, who’ve earned the Frenchman’s trust.
Ajayi’s injury problems could further cost him a place in Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 squad list as he’s played just four competitive games for club and country since the turn of the year.
For Hull City, Ajayi’s enforced absence will not change the club’s transfer plans at this stage, but things could change at the back end of the transfer market.