Ajayi to miss Nigeria’s World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho, Zimbabwe

Nigeria’s defender Semi Ajayi reacts during the Group D Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2021 football match between Guinea-Bissau and Nigeria at Stade Roumde Adjia in Garoua on January 19, 2022. (Photo by Daniel BELOUMOU OLOMO / AFP)

Semi Ajayi could miss Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe in November through an ankle ligament injury.

Ajayi came on in the 78th minute against Plymouth on Saturday which ended goalless.

According to Birmingham Mail, the defender was clearly struggling when reporting for training on Monday.

West Brom manager Carlos Corberan confirmed the ankle injury sustained by the Nigerian.

“Ajayi played the last week ten minutes at the end of the game at the weekend and he suffered an injury in the ankle,” Corberan said.

“On Monday Ajayi came into training and he couldn’t walk. He turned his ligament in the ankle. It will be a miracle if he is ready for Coventry.”

The game between West Brom and Coventry comes up on Monday, 30 October.

Ajayi was involved in the Super Eagles friendly game against Saudi Arabia in Portugal which ended 2-2.

However, he was an unused substitute in the 3-2 win against Mozambique in another friendly game.

Nigeria will kickoff their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers with a home game with Lesotho in November 17.

On November 20, they will be in Kigali, Rwanda, for their second game in the qualifiers against Zimbabwe.

It remains to be seen if Ajayi will recover in time for the two crucial World Cup qualifiers.

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