By Daily Sports Nigeria on September 26, 2025

Lazio midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru has been ruled out for about a month with a lesion to the femoral bicep in his right leg, potentially missing Nigeria’s last two 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Lesotho and the Benin Republic in October, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The midfielder was forced off after just 14 minutes against Roma in the Rome derby at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday, and further tests have now revealed the extent of the injury.

His club confirmed he will spend around a month on the sidelines, joining Matías Vecino and Nicolò Rovella in the treatment room. The news comes as another setback for Maurizio Sarri’s side, who are already short of options in midfield at a demanding stage of the season.

At the club level, the 24-year-old has played four games in the league this season.

The timing of the injury is particularly damaging for the Super Eagles, who are still mathematically in the race for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

He was instrumental in the last time out against South Africa, delivering the cross which Calvin Bassey rose high to turn home for the Super Eagles’ equaliser against the Bafana Bafana in Bloemfontein.

Since his debut against Mozambique in October 2023, he has played nine official games for Nigeria, scoring two goals and two assists.

His absence, coupled with Ola Aina’s injury and Victor Osimhen’s ongoing recovery, leaves coach Eric Chelle facing a tactical puzzle as he puts up his list for the two games.

Nigeria are six points adrift of South Africa in their group and cannot afford further setbacks in October’s fixtures.

The Eagles’ hope of turning things around rests on a potential points deduction facing South Africa, for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, against Lesotho in March.

FIFA has charged the South African Football Association and Nigeria, as well as the Benin Republic, who sit second in the group, await the world’s football governing body’s verdict.

Source Punch Ng

Posted September 26, 2025

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