Hull City defender Semi Ajayi will be unavailable for Nigeria’s upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Gabon after receiving a suspension.
Ajayi picked up his second yellow card of the qualifying campaign during Tuesday’s 4-0 victory over the Benin Republic. The defender was booked in the 55th minute for a foul on goalkeeper Saturnin Allagbe, having previously been cautioned in Nigeria’s opening qualifier against Lesotho on November 16, 2023.
His absence is a significant blow for the Super Eagles’ defense, as Ajayi has been a consistent and reliable performer throughout the qualifiers. However, coach Eric Chelle will welcome back winger Ademola Lookman, who missed the Benin match due to suspension.
Nigeria will face Gabon in Morocco on Thursday, November 13, as they continue their quest to secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup.
Meanwhile, former Super Eagles striker Brown Ideye has raised concerns about the team’s overreliance on striker Victor Osimhen for goals. Osimhen has been the standout performer in the qualifiers, scoring six times, while other squad members such as Kelechi Iheanacho, Semi Ajayi, and Tolu Arokodare have managed only one goal each.
Ideye emphasized the need for other attacking players to step up, stating, “If Victor Osimhen is the only striker doing numbers when it comes to scoring goals for the Super Eagles, then we have a problem if we make it to the World Cup. The other strikers need to step up their game.”
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