Super Eagles midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo suffers injury ahead of AFCON 2021 qualifiers

Etebo will be a huge miss for both the Super Eagles and Stoke City.

Super Eagles midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo has suffered an injury that threatens to rule him out of Nigeria’s 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Republic of Benin and Lesotho in November. 

Etebo who missed Super Eagles last game against Brazil could be out of the next as he got injured in Stoke City’s 1-0 away loss to Sheffield Wednesday. 

The 23-year-old midfielder was taken out in the 24th minute of the encounter and Stoke City coach Nathan Jones said the Nigerian had suffered a muscular injury. 

The midfielder has already been ruled out of Stoke City away trip to Millwall on Saturday, October 26.

The injury is a huge blow for Stoke City as Jones blamed the Tuesday night loss on Etebo’s absence. 

“To lose Etebo early was a big blow for us and then lose your centre-half, invariably the one that came on makes a big error for the only goal of the game,” Jones said after the game. 

"Etebo suffered a muscular injury which will take a while to recover."

Stoke City fans expressed disappointment over the injury on Twitter to highlight Etebo’s importance to the Potters this season. 

ALSO READ: Five things to know about Etebo

Etebo who has been one of Stoke City’s best players so far this season has played 11 games.

Super Eagles boss Gernot Rohr will be monitoring Etebo’s situation ahead of the qualifiers in November. 

In Etebo’s absence against Brazil, Joe Aribo impressed as a box to box midfielder and scored in the game. 

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will face the Republic of Benin on Wednesday, November 13 and Lesotho a few days later in Group L of AFCON 2021.