2022 AFCON: Omeruo Doubtful For Sudan Clash

Leganes defender, Kenneth Omeruo, is a doubt for the Super Eagles of Nigeria second Group D match against Sudan at the ongoing AFCON in Cameroon on Saturday, January 15.

Omeruo partnered with Watford defender William Troost-Ekong in the heart of the Super Eagles defence in their Group D opening match against Egypt at the Stade Roumde Adjia stadium in Garuoa on Tuesday, January 11.

The match ended in a 1-0 victory result for the Super Eagles. Leicester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho scored the only goal in the encounter during the first half of the match.

In the 79th minute of the encounter, Omeruo, who is on his third AFCON outing was replaced by West Bromwich Albion’s defender, Semi Ajayi. He will undergo some tests later today to ascertain how serious the injury is.

If the injury should force Omeruo out of the team’s next match, interim head coach, Austin Eguavoen can opt for Semi Ajayi or Chidozie Awaziem as potential replacements.

Omeruo was part of Nigeria’s Under-20 team at the FIFA Under 20 World Cup in Colombia, 2011. He made his senior team debut in January 2013 and also made his AFCON debut in the same year under late Stephen Keshi, as the team won the tournament in South Africa. The 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup finalist was also part of the team that won bronze in Egypt in 2019. In addition, he has represented the country at two FIFA World Cups, Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018. Kenneth Omeruo has earned 55 caps in the national team, scoring one goal against Guinea at the 2019 AFCON.

Omeruo, 28, signed for Chelsea in 2012 but he was unable to establish himself as a first-team player. He had loan stints at Ado Den Haag, Middlesbrough, Kasimpasa, Alanyaspor, and Leganes, before signing a permanent deal with the Spanish side in 2019.

Source

Punch NG