The young midfielder was expected to make Eric Chelle's Super Eagles squad to take on Gabon…
Nigerian midfielder Ebenezer Akinsanmiro suffered a shoulder injury and had to be helped off the pitch in Pisa's 1-0 win over Cremonese on Friday, Soccernet.ng reports.
Akinsanmiro has had a fine start to the Serie A campaign since joining Pisa from Inter Milan in a season-long loan during the summer transfer window. He has impressed under the tutelage of coach Alberto Gilardino.
His performances have not gone unnoticed, as he has been on Eric Chelle's radar for a few weeks.
He has even been touted to make the Super Eagles squad for the upcoming World Cup playoffs next week.
However, he suffered an injury setback in Pisa's first win of the season against Cremonese on Friday.
The 20-year-old, who was one of the best players on the pitch, suffered a shoulder injury and had to be taken off in the 68th minute. Akinsanmiro seemed to be in serious pain as he walked off the pitch.
After the game, when Pisa coach Gilardino was asked about the former Sampdoria man, he confirmed that the Nigerian would be sidelined for a while.
“He (Akinsanmiro) had a shoulder problem that we'll evaluate in the next few days. I hope it's nothing serious, because we're counting on him a lot,” Gilardino said, per FC Inter.
Luckily for Pisa, the international break is here, so Akinsanmiro will have a two-week window to heal from his injury.
Akinsanmiro To Miss Super Eagles Call-up
Now that Ebenezer Akinsanmiro has sustained an injury, he will have to wait a little longer before he gets a Super Eagles call-up.
He was expected to make the team for the playoffs, but with this recent shoulder injury, it will require a miracle for him to make it.
Nonetheless, he is still very young at 20, so he has a lot of time in his hands. Moreover, the 2025 Africa Cup of Nation is in December, and with the limited midfield options for Eric Chelle, Akinsanmiro might make the squad.
The young midfielder is versatile, as he can play as an attacking midfielder, central midfielder, or from the right side of midfield. He has an incredible work rate and uses the ball very well.
Akinsanmiro is on loan at Pisa, but his parent club is Inter Milan. If he continues to grow, he can fancy his chances of breaking into the nerazzurri's first team in the coming years.
