Eric Chelle waits on Super Eagles star’s injury results ahead of Nigeria AFCON qualifiers
Retold by Oddsrama · 26 August 2026
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Nigeria's Super Eagles have a fresh injury worry just weeks out from their AFCON 2027 qualifiers. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, the midfield lynchpin who helped steer the side to bronze at this year's tournament, limped off during Lazio's opening Serie A clash against Bologna on Monday. The midfielder is due for medical scans at a Rome facility on Wednesday to determine the extent of the damage to his thigh flexor, leaving coach Eric Chelle sweating on the outcome ahead of the qualification sprint.
With Nigeria's Group L campaign kicking off between late September and early October against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, Chelle faces a nervous wait. Dele-Bashiru's versatility and composure in midfield have made him integral to recent Super Eagles plans—the Manchester City academy product was a reliable figure throughout pre-season and the club circuit. A clean bill of health keeps options open; a serious setback could force tactical rethinks with just weeks to prepare.
The injury headache compounds existing concerns, with defenders Femi Azeez and Semi Ajayi also nursing problems. For punters and observers tracking Nigeria's form heading into qualifying, Dele-Bashiru's status is a live variable—depending on the scan results, the midfield depth and tactical shape could shift meaningfully. Chelle, now contracted through 2030 as Nigeria aim for a stronger AFCON 2027 showing, will be hoping Wednesday's news is encouraging enough to avoid wholesale contingency planning.
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