News

Understanding the injuries that will keep four Super Eagles stars out for the rest of the season

Injuries are part of the game of football, but no footballer ever wants to get injured.

The slightest sprain or strain on muscles causes varying levels of concerns to footballers and their clubs.

It becomes even more difficult to accept when it recurs and when there’s great competition, it is as unfair as it can get.

At least four players who have been capped or invited by the Super Eagles in the past have sustained season-ending injuries this campaign.

These injuries have left these players devastated and their clubs sad as they are considered key.

From Samson Tijani who suffered a fractured tibia and fibula bone to Jamilu Collins, Sadiq Umar and Taiwo Akinkunmi who all tore their Anterior Cruciate Ligaments, it is far from the ideal season for the Nigerians.

Lots of medical jargon are used in revealing player conditions and identifying lesions. It may be important to have an idea of what each player is dealing with to understand how long they will wait and how much they go through.

 

Samson Tijani – Fractured Tibia and Fibula

Tijani sustained a tibia and fibula fracture while he was on preseason with Red Bull Salzburg.

He suffered the injury in a game against Feyenoord, and is expected to be out for the season or in a best case scenario, be available much later in the season, depending on his recovery and rehabilitation.

“Samson suffered a fractured fibula and tibia in yesterday’s friendly against Feyenoord, and will be out for the remainder of the season.

“We’re saddened to hear about the severity of his injury, and wish him a speedy recovery.

“Get well soon, Samson,” the club said in a statement.

The tibia and fibula according to Johns Hopkins Medicine are the two long bones located in the lower leg. The tibia is a larger bone on the inside, and the fibula is a smaller bone on the outside. The tibia is much thicker than the fibula. It is the main weight-bearing bone of the two. The fibula supports the tibia and helps stabilize the ankle and lower leg muscles.

Speciality medical dialogues

Tibia and fibula fractures are characterized as either low-energy or high-energy. Low-energy, nondisplaced (aligned) fractures, sometimes called toddler’s fractures, occur from minor falls and twisting injuries. High-energy fractures like Tijani’s, such as those caused by serious car accidents or major falls, are more common in older children.

 

Akinkunmi Amoo, Sadiq Umar and Jamilu Collins – ACL/Knee injury

 

FC Copenhagen last week broke the news that the Nigerian youngster will not play for the rest of the season after suffering a serious knee injury that will keep him out for at least 10 months.

The most common knee injury for footballers is rupture or tear of the anterior Cruciate ligament.

“Amoo unfortunately suffered a serious knee injury in Saturday’s training match against Silkeborg, and after scans and examinations he has unfortunately been ruled out for the rest of the season,” the club stated.

“Amoo now has an operation, then rest and then a long rehabilitation before he can train with the team and play matches again. Altogether, that process will last 9-10 months,’ says chief physician at FCK, Morten Boesen.

“Everyone at FCK wishes Amoo a speedy recovery,” the club said.

In Jamilu Collins’ situation, Cardiff City coach, Steve Morrison revealed that the club will stand by the former Paderborn player as he has shown great quality and is a great person.

“We won’t see him again until next season. It is gutting for the lad, really gutting,”

“We are all here for him. We are going to make the next year the best it can possibly be for him.

“It’s the worst-case scenario. The plan will be to get him back for pre-season next year. The one thing we do know when he comes back for pre-season, we will have one hell of a left-back.

“That is something everyone can look forward to next season.”


Sadiq’s case was announced yesterday in a statement by the medical team of Real Sociedad.

“He suffered a torsion in his right knee during the Getafe-RS match, held yesterday, 09-11-2022.

“The MRI done this morning shows a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament. It is a subsidiary lesion of surgical treatment. In the next few days it will be reported.

“Start treatment with physiotherapy and personalized work,” the club declared in a statement.

What is the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) of the knee?

According to Orthoinfo, the Cruciate ligaments are found inside the knee joint.

They cross each other to form an “X” with the anterior cruciate ligament in front and the posterior cruciate ligament behind. The cruciate ligaments control the back and forth motion of the knee.

The anterior cruciate ligament runs diagonally in the middle of the knee. It prevents the tibia from sliding out in front of the femur, as well as provides rotational stability to the knee.

How does an ACL tear or sprain happen?

Footballers’ biggest nemesis, the ACL is a high activity segment of the knee. It is important to a player’s career.

According to Mayo Clinic, an ACL injury is a tear or sprain of the anterior cruciate ligament — one of the strong bands of tissue that help connect your thigh bone (femur) to your shinbone (tibia). ACL injuries most commonly occur during sports that involve sudden stops or changes in direction, jumping and landing — such as football and basketball.

It is hoped that there will be no long-term injury casualty for the Super Eagles again as Jose Peseiro continues his team building.

Rilwan Balogun

Rilwan is an editor, writer and loves every opinion.

Share
Published by
Rilwan Balogun

Recent Posts

Osimhen: Napoli star drops transfer hint as Man United and Chelsea prepare €75 million bid

Napoli-owned forward Victor Osimhen has sparked transfer speculation with a new comment about his future,… Read More

3 hours ago

Ghana 0-0 Nigeria: CHAN Eagles grab first-leg advantage in Accra against Black Galaxies

Nigeria forced Ghana to a goalless draw in the first leg of the qualifying playoff… Read More

3 hours ago

What Hakimi’s mother said after her son lost the CAF POTY Award to Lookman

Achraf Hakimi's mother, Saida Mouh, has revealed her son has moved on from the disappointment… Read More

3 hours ago

“I see similarities with Leicester” – Ex-Barcelona striker backs Ola Aina’s Nott’m Forest to win EPL title

Former Barcelona and England striker, Gary Lineker, has backed Taiwo Awoniyi and Ola Aina's Nottingham… Read More

4 hours ago

Two Premier League clubs ready to meet Napoli’s €75m asking price for Victor Osimhen

Two English Premier League sides, Manchester United and Chelsea, are prepared to meet Napoli's €75m… Read More

5 hours ago

Tolu Arokodare surpasses Stephen Keshi’s mark in Belgium as Genk humble Anderlecht

Tolu Arokodare delivered a man-of-the-match performance to inspire KRC Genk to a convincing 2-0 win… Read More

5 hours ago