Semi Ajayi out for four months after picking up hamstring injury which will require surgery

SUPER Eagles centreback Semi Ajayi will be out of action for four months after picking up a hamstring injury that will require surgery last weekend during an English Championship league match against Cardiff City.

Ajayi, 30, who plays for West Bromwich Albion (WBA), has been part of a Nigerian three-man backline alongside skipper William Ekong and Calvin Bassey. Standing at six feet four inches, he is a major presence at the back, vital for winning aerial duels and his injury means he will now miss Nigeria's remaining three Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers due this year.

West Brom manager Carlos Corberan said: “Semi, unfortunately, has suffered a more difficult injury, it was an action which was an accident. In this action, he has broken his muscle in two parts and the best way to manage this injury is with surgery because surgery helps reduce the risk of suffering this type of injury again.

“There are injuries which affect the tendon in specific areas where you have to have surgery. The surgery delays things by around two weeks, but it also reduces the risk of the injury reoccurring. Returning in about 16 weeks is the approximate time when you have this type of surgery.”

Ajayi will now certainly miss Nigeria’s Nations qualifiers against Benin and Rwanda which are scheduled for 14 November and 18 November respectively. At the 2023 African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, Ajayi was the only player who played every single minute of Nigeria's seven matches as the team went on to reach the final.