Another Super Eagles star suffers injury days after Nigeria’s AFCON 2023 campaign

The three-time continental champions enjoyed a deep run in the 34th edition of the competition

Trabzonspor striker Paul Onuachu has suffered a potentially serious injury while on duty for his club, Soccernet.ng reports.

Onuachu was named in Trabzonspor’s starting eleven for their clash with Istanbul Basaksehir in the quarterfinals of the Turkish Cup on Wednesday afternoon.

Trabzonspor secured a 1-0 victory courtesy of a 57th-minute strike from Edin Visca to advance to the competition’s semifinals.

However, Onuachu did not stay on his feet to the end of the encounter as he succumbed to injury in the 68th minute and was replaced by Enis Destan.

After the encounter, Trabzonspor manager Abdullah Avci commented on the injury suffered by the Nigerian forward.

Avci revealed that Onuachu would need to undertake an MRI test to determine the extent of his injury, insisting that the club would provide information regarding how long the striker would be out of action on Thursday. 

Onuachu becomes the latest Nigerian star to suffer injury barely 19 days after the conclusion of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

The Super Eagles finished second in that tournament, but the price of that success has been a costly one.

Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina has not played since the end of the tournament due to injury.

Porto full-back Zaidu Sanusi is also expected to be out for about eight months after he got injured days after returning to his club.

A few hours ago, William Troost-Ekong went under the knife in Finland to correct a hamstring trouble he cupped while playing for Nigeria at the AFCON.

Onuachu will, however, hope his injury will not keep him away from action for a lengthy period.

The Southampton-owned forward has nine goals and three assists in 17 league games for Trabzonspor.