Onuachu joins Super Eagles walking wounded ahead of WCQs; Trabzonspor coach plays down injury

Paul Onuachu is the latest Super Eagles player to suffer an injury ahead of the national team's crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa's Bafana Bafana and Benin's Cheetahs. 

Empoli right-back Tyronne Ebuehi, Porto left-back Zaidu Sanusi and Nantes winger Moses Simon are unlikely to be available for selection for both encounters as they are still recovering from long-term injuries. 

Fenerbahce fullback Bright Osayi-Samuel recently suffered an ankle-related injury, central defender William Troost-Ekong is partially training with the group at PAOK after recovering from an injury he suffered at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, while Jamilu Collins has been battling to overcome a groin injury that saw him miss Cardiff City's last three games in the Championship

Onuachu was forced off injured during the second half of Trabzonpor's 4-0 rout of Fatih Karagümrük in the semifinals, second leg of the Turkish Cup on Wednesday evening at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium.

The Southampton loanee landed awkwardly on the turf following an aerial duel with Fatih Karagümrük central defender Federico Ceccherini in the 57th minute, and immediately called for medical attention as soon as he hit the ground. 

After receiving treatment for a few minutes, he had to be helped off the pitch by a member of Trabzonspor's backroom staff and was replaced by Umut Bozok in the 60th minute.

Onuachu has returned to the Trabzonspor treatment room after only just recovering from a fractured forearm that kept him sidelined for eight weeks. 

Before sustaining the injury, the lanky striker opened the scoring for Trabzonspor in the 54th minute, volleying home a delivery from Thomas Meunier.

Speaking post match, Trabzonspor coach Abdullah Avcı played down the injury suffered by Onuachu, saying that he received information from the medical team that the forward's condition is not serious.

In quotes relayed by Taka Gazete, he said: "We learned that it is not a serious condition, it is a spasm-like condition. I think he will be ready by the end of the week".

Finidi did not summon Onuachu for the Super Eagles' March internationals against Ghana and Mali due to injury. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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