Super Eagles CB Ogbu ruled out of Portugal clash with suspected Achilles tendon injury

Super Eagles defender Igoh Ogbu has been ruled out of Nigeria’s international friendly against Portugal after suffering a serious injury during training, with team medical staff fearing a suspected rupture of his left Achilles tendon, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

The Slavia Prague centre-back picked up the injury during a training session on Saturday evening and immediately received on-field treatment before being withdrawn from full participation.

Early medical assessments point toward a significant Achilles tendon problem, although the defender is expected to undergo further scans to confirm the full extent of the damage.

The development is a major setback for the Super Eagles, who are preparing for one of their most high-profile fixtures of the international window.

Ogbu had been expected to feature prominently in the defensive line due to his recent rise in importance within the squad and his strong performances at club level in Europe.

Medical officials within the national team setup have described the injury as potentially long-term, depending on the outcome of detailed imaging tests scheduled in the coming days. 

Ogbu’s absence also adds to growing concern over his fitness record in recent times.

The 26-year-old defender has faced a series of minor setbacks and interruptions throughout his career, with occasional injury spells affecting his availability at both club and international level. 

Wale Adejumo