Matches Dele-Bashiru will miss for Super Eagles and Lazio after latest injury blow

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru faces at least three weeks out after suffering a right thigh injury in Lazio's 1-0 win at Bologna on Monday, Soccernet.ng reports.

The injury now puts his club and Nigeria plans under pressure just weeks before the Super Eagles start their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

Dele-Bashiru started Lazio's Serie A opener at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara. He played 54 minutes before leaving the pitch for Davide Frattesi. Frattesi later scored the only goal of the game in the 59th minute.

Tests later found a first- or second-degree tear in Dele-Bashiru's right thigh, according to Messaggero. The report says the 25-year-old is expected to miss at least three weeks.

That forecast puts three Lazio matches outside his expected recovery period:

August 30: Lazio vs Genoa
September 7: Udinese vs Lazio
September 12 or 13: Lazio vs AC Milan

The September 19 trip to Venezia is less clear. It falls just over three weeks after the Bologna injury, so Dele-Bashiru could still miss that game if his recovery takes longer. The Laziali also lists him as a doubt for the match.

Super Eagles miss for Dele-Bashiru?

The bigger concern is Nigeria. The Super Eagles are in Group L of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers with Madagascar, Tanzania and Guinea-Bissau. CAF says the first two matchdays will take place from September 21 to October 6. Nigeria are scheduled to face Madagascar on September 23 and Guinea-Bissau on September 27.

A three-week recovery from August 24 would take Dele-Bashiru to around September 14. That could give him a chance to return before Nigeria's camp opens. A slower recovery could rule him out of both qualifiers.

That makes his next medical checks important for Lazio coach Gennaro Gattuso and Super Eagles boss Eric Chelle, who have already seen the midfielder become an important part of their plans.