Lazio midfielder Dele-Bashiru makes his comeback from injury after Super Eagles snub

Super Eagles midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru made his long-awaited return from injury as Lazio played out a 1-1 draw against Viktoria Plzen at the Stadio Olimpico on Thursday night in the UEFA Europa League.

The 24-year-old, who had been sidelined since Lazio's goalless draw against Venezia in February due to an ankle injury, returned to action with just eleven minutes left in the game.

Dele-Bashiru had been named on the bench in Lazio's recent league clash against Udinese but did not feature. However, his return against Viktoria Plzen marked his first official appearance since sustaining the injury.

The Nigerian international replaced former Barcelona winger Pedro González as Lazio pushed for a late winner in front of their home supporters.

Despite his short time on the pitch, his return is seen as a major boost for the Italian side as they continue their European campaign.

Before his injury, Dele-Bashiru had been in impressive form in the UEFA Europa League, scoring twice and providing two assists, which helped Lazio secure the top spot in the group phase.

His absence was felt as he missed three matches across all competitions, including the first leg against Viktoria Plzen, as well as crucial Serie A game against AC Milan and a Coppa Italia clash with Inter Milan.

On the international front, Dele-Bashiru was left out of Nigeria's final 23-man squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe despite making the initial 39-man provisional list.

His absence will be a setback for Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle, who will be looking to strengthen Nigeria's qualification hopes for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

With international duties now off his schedule, Dele-Bashiru will focus on regaining full match fitness and contributing to Lazio's ambitions in both Serie A and the Europa League.

Adeyemi Adewale

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