Nigeria’s interim coach Augustine Eguavoen received unfortunate news as Sevilla’s coach García Pimienta confirmed that Super Eagles winger Chidera Ejuke suffered a hamstring injury during a La Liga match against Barcelona. The injury occurred just before halftime, forcing Ejuke to be substituted after clutching his hamstring and being assisted off the field by the medical team.
This injury comes just three weeks before the international break in November, where Ejuke was expected to feature in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Libya. Although Ejuke had earned a recall to the national team after two years of absence, he was not used in the first leg in Uyo, and the second leg was postponed due to logistical issues.
Sevilla’s coach confirmed that Ejuke is set for a spell on the sidelines, although the exact recovery time is still unknown. This setback is unfortunate for Ejuke, who had recently forced his way back into Sevilla’s starting lineup and was regaining favour with the Nigerian national team.
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Editorial
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Chidera Ejuke’s hamstring injury is a significant blow for Sevilla and the Nigerian national team. Just as he was regaining momentum in his club and international career, this injury threatened to sideline him during a crucial period. For Nigeria, losing a player of Ejuke’s calibre ahead of important Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers is a setback.
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We believe that Sevilla and the Super Eagles coaching staff will closely monitor Ejuke's recovery. Injuries like this require patience and proper rehabilitation to avoid long-term issues, and we hope to see him return stronger. His ability to impact games with his dribbling and creativity will be sorely missed, but his focus should now be on fully recovering.
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This incident also raises the importance of squad depth for Nigeria as they prepare for upcoming international matches. Eguavoen will need to assess alternative options, ensuring the team remains competitive despite the absence of like Ejuke.
Did You Know?
Chidera Ejuke was recalled to the Super Eagles after two years in the international wilderness.
Ejuke has eight international caps for [Nigeria](https://www.footballinnigeria.com.ng/category/football-history/) but hasn’t added to that tally recently due to injury and tactical decisions.
The injury occurred during a La Liga clash against Barcelona, where Sevilla was trailing 3-0.
Ejuke was part of the Super Eagles squad stranded at Al Abraq [Airport](https://www.footballinnigeria.com.ng/news/interviews/noah-atubolu-addresses-racism-in-german-football/) in Libya for over 16 hours before returning to Abuja.
Sevilla manager García Pimienta has not yet disclosed the exact recovery timeline for Ejuke’s hamstring injury.