THIGH INJURY FORCES DELE-BASHIRU ONTO LAZIO SIDELINES FOR THREE WEEKS

Lazio midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is expected to spend at least three weeks on the sidelines after suffering a thigh injury during his side’s Serie A victory over Bologna.

The Nigerian international sustained a first- or second-degree tear in his right thigh during Lazio’s 1-0 win at the Renato Dall’Ara on Monday. He was forced off in the 54th minute and replaced by Davide Frattesi, who scored the decisive goal five minutes later.

Medical examinations reportedly confirmed the extent of the injury, with Italian outlets Il Messaggero and La Lazio Siamo Noi reporting that the midfielder would be unavailable for several weeks.

The setback comes at an unfortunate time for Dele-Bashiru, who had earned a starting role under Lazio manager Gennaro Gattuso following an encouraging performance in the club’s Coppa Italia defeat to Mantova.

The 25-year-old is now expected to miss Lazio’s home fixture against Genoa on August 30, as well as subsequent Serie A matches against Udinese on September 7 and AC Milan on September 13. He could also be unavailable for the trip to Venezia on September 19, depending on his recovery.

The injury could also raise concerns over his availability for Nigeria’s upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The Super Eagles are scheduled to face Madagascar on September 23 before taking on Guinea-Bissau four days later.

A three-week recovery could see Dele-Bashiru return around the middle of September, potentially giving him a chance of making Nigeria’s squad. However, a longer recovery period could rule him out of one or both qualifying fixtures.

Dele-Bashiru will now focus on rehabilitation as Lazio’s medical team monitors his recovery. The midfielder had been making progress in establishing himself under Gattuso, making the latest injury a significant interruption to his early-season campaign.