Suspected Achilles injury rules out Ogbu for Portugal friendly
Super Eagles defender Igho Ogbu sustained a suspected left Achilles tendon rupture during training in Lisbon on Saturday, team officials confirmed. The Super Eagles had arrived from Poland after a 2-2 draw earlier in the week and held their first Lisbon training session on Friday. The injury immediately rules Ogbu out of Wednesday’s international friendly against Portugal in Leiria and raises concerns over a potentially lengthy recovery period.
Ogbu had been among the players Head Coach Eric Chelle was monitoring as he evaluates options for future competitive fixtures, including the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. His absence could open the door for another defender to stake a claim in Chelle’s plans, especially after the squad was bolstered by the arrivals of Alex Iwobi, Genk’s Christian Akpan and winger Samuel Chukwueze, bringing the camp total to 22 players.
The Super Eagles face Portugal on Wednesday in what will be Nigeria’s second and final friendly of the current international window. The match also serves as Portugal’s final outing before they begin their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign. With Ogbu sidelined, which defender do you think should step up to fill the gap, and how might Chelle adjust his defensive lineup for the upcoming qualifiers?