By Wale Mustapha
Nigeria midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a major doubt for the Super Eagles’ 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying fixtures against Lesotho and Benin Republic after sustaining a muscle injury.
The Lazio star was forced off early during last weekend’s Derby della Capitale defeat to AS Roma and subsequent medical checks confirmed he will be sidelined for up to a month.
The setback adds to Lazio’s injury concerns, with Matías Vecino and Nicolò Rovella already out of action.
Dele-Bashiru, 24, has featured four times in Serie A this season following his move from Hatayspor, where he impressed in the Turkish Super Lig.
For Nigeria, the timing is particularly concerning as head coach Finidi George prepares to name his squad for the crucial November qualifiers.
Dele-Bashiru had been expected to play a key role in midfield after breaking into the Super Eagles set-up earlier this year.
His absence would be a significant blow for Nigeria’s push to secure early momentum in Group C of the qualifiers.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
