Ex-Sporting Lisbon boss laments as injury knocks out Nigeria’s Etim for the rest of the season

The Liga Portugal 2 campaigners have lost a key player just three games into the new season

In a disappointing turn of events for CD Mafra, Nigerian forward Friday Etim faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to injury, as confirmed by the club’s manager, Jorge Manuel Rebelo Fernandes, Soccernet.ng reports.

Etim missed Mafra’s impressive 2-1 victory over FC Porto B due to the injury sustained just before the Segunda Liga clash.

According to reports from Record PT, the young Lagos-born forward has endured a challenging setback, suffering a torn ligament in his left knee. This unfortunate injury will keep him out of action for at least eight months.

Etim’s predicament is particularly disheartening considering his recent €1 million transfer from Vizela to Mafra at the beginning of the season.

The 21-year-old had made a promising start, featuring in four games for Mafra.

Regrettably, he will no longer actively contribute to the Portuguese side’s efforts until next year.

Coach Fernandes lamented Etim’s misfortune while acknowledging the significant void his absence creates.

However, the former Sporting Lisbon gaffer remained optimistic about the youngster’s resilience, stating,

“Etim’s pain is the pain of all of us. He is a unique player who will be greatly missed by us, but I am sure he will come back even stronger.”

Etim’s journey in football began as a youth product of Dominion Hotspurs, later moving to Vizela U23s on September 2, 2021, with a contract that extended until 2025.

During his time with Vizela U23s, he distinguished himself as the top scorer for the 2021-22 Liga Revelação season. He made his professional debut with Vizela in a 3–1 Taça de Portugal loss to Porto on January 12, 2022, and his performance earned him a place in the first-team squad for the 2022-23 season.

There, he showcased his abilities with six goals and three assists in 27 appearances across all competitions.