Super Eagles winger Samuel Chukwueze has undergone successful surgery on his left hip in London and is set to miss Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Tanzania this month, Bold sports reports.
AC Milan confirmed on Wednesday that the procedure repaired a ruptured tendon in his left hip. Professor Ernest Schilders performed the operation with Milan doctor Stefano Mazzoni present. The club said Chukwueze would return to Italy that day to begin rehabilitation. Milan have yet to announce a date for his return to action.
Chukwueze picked up the injury during Milan’s 3–2 Serie A win over Atalanta at San Siro on 18 October. He subsequently missed the Europa League match against Bournemouth and league games against Udinese, Bologna and Inter. His absence interrupted a run in which he had established himself on the right under Rúben Amorim after returning from a loan spell at Fulham.
The 27-year-old started Nigeria’s opening qualifier against Madagascar and played for about an hour before Moses Usor replaced him. Chukwueze was an unused substitute in the next game, a 3–0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in Bissau.
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That defeat left Éric Chelle’s side second in Group L, three points behind Guinea-Bissau. Tanzania and Madagascar each had a point after drawing 1–1 in their second match. With only the group winner qualifying, the two November meetings give the Super Eagles a chance to recover ground after dropping points in Bissau.
Nigeria host the Taifa Stars in Uyo on Friday, 13 November, before travelling to Dar es Salaam for the return match on Tuesday, 17 November. Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar also meet twice in the window, meaning Nigeria’s results against Tanzania will be only part of the picture as the group moves past the halfway stage.
For Chukwueze, the immediate next step is rehabilitation in Italy. His recovery timeline remains open, leaving Milan to assess his progress before setting a return date and Chelle to prepare for two qualifiers without the winger who started Nigeria’s opening match.
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