Bassey, Ajayi on alert as Super Eagles lose key star before Portugal test

Nigeria's Super Eagles have suffered a major setback ahead of their international friendly against Portugal after defender Igoh Ogbu picked up an injury during training, Soccernet.ng reports.

The centre-back was forced to stop training on Saturday evening after sustaining what team doctors fear could be a rupture of his left Achilles tendon. Further medical examinations are expected, but the early signs, as confirmed by the Super Eagles, indicate that the injury will keep the 26-year-old out of action for a significant period.

The timing could hardly be worse for head coach Eric Chelle, who is preparing his side for a demanding test against Portugal in Leiria. Ogbu had been expected to play an important role in Nigeria's defence after featuring in the team's recent 2-2 draw against Poland on June 3, where he completed the first half before being replaced.

His absence leaves Chelle with fewer options in central defence. The remaining specialist centre-backs in camp are Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey and Emmanuel Fernandez. Ajayi's experience at international level makes him a strong candidate to start, while Fernandez could be handed a bigger role after his recent inclusion in the squad. Bassey is also expected to take on greater responsibility at the heart of the defence.

Igoh Ogbu: Tough road to becoming Super Eagles regular

Ogbu's injury is particularly disappointing given the progress he has made in international football over the last year.

The defender first attracted national attention with the Flying Eagles in 2019. He was a regular member of Nigeria's squad at the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, helping the team reach the semi-finals, before featuring again at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland, where Nigeria advanced to the Round of 16.

His impressive performances for Czech champions SK Slavia Prague eventually earned him a first senior call-up under Chelle in 2025. Since then, he has become a trusted member of the Super Eagles squad.

Ogbu was part of Nigeria's squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, making three appearances as the team secured a third-place finish. He has also featured prominently in friendlies over the past few weeks, playing against Jamaica, Zimbabwe and Poland.

With Ogbu now sidelined, Chelle must quickly reorganise his back line before facing a Portugal side packed with attacking quality. The Super Eagles will hope their remaining defenders can rise to the challenge as they prepare for one of their toughest tests of the international window.