Les Zèbres suffered a beating at home in their game against the league leaders on Saturday, but the result was not the most important thing
Super Eagles defender Valentine Ozornwafor suffered a major scare on Saturday night after he collapsed twice in Royal Charleroi’s 3-0 loss to Union Saint-Gilloise.
Ozornwafor was taken off in the added minute of the first half after he was punched in the face by Union’s Dante Vanzeir, who was sent off for his action.
😳 | Dante Vanzeir est exclu suite à ce très mauvais geste ! 😤🟥 #CHAUSG pic.twitter.com/gpUE96hwZ4
— Eleven Sports (FR) (@ElevenSportsBEf) February 19, 2022
The punch from the Belgian forward appeared to have left the Nigerian unconscious, and he had to be taken off on a stretcher.
However, Royal released a statement immediately after the game that the Super Eagles defender had regained consciousness, but he would still be under the observation of the doctors.
Their statement read: The first news about our defender Valentine Ozornwafor is reassuring. After losing consciousness twice in the field, he is now conscious and will remain under observation, according to the concussion protocol.
🏥 Les premières nouvelles concernant notre défenseur Valentine Ozornwafor sont rassurantes. Après avoir perdu connaissance par deux fois sur le terrain, il est désormais conscient et restera en observation, selon le protocole commotion. #RCSC #JPL #Ozornwafor pic.twitter.com/6kdvGagroH
— Royal Charleroi Sporting Club (@SportCharleroi) February 19, 2022
Ozornwafor is currently on loan at the Belgian club from Turkish giants Galatasaray. Saturday’s game was his seventh league appearance in what has been a disappointing loan spell so far.
Edward Still’s men were already two goals down as at the time Ozornwafor was taken off the pitch. Goals from Christian Burgess and Jean Thierry Lazare had put Union SG ahead.
Alex Millan’s goal in the added minute completed a day of misery for the home side. But the result was the second most important thing on the night following Ozornwafor’s situation.
The 22-year-old has two caps for Nigeria, which came in the friendly games against Cameroon last year.