Midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru suffered an ankle injury during Lazio’s goalless draw against Venezia on Saturday, casting doubt over his availability for Nigeria’s crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers next month.
The 24-year-old started in midfield alongside Matteo Guendouzi, replacing the suspended Nicolò Rovella.
However, his outing was cut short after he sustained an ankle sprain following a collision with Alessio Zerbin in the 36th minute.
Despite initially attempting to play on, Dele-Bashiru was eventually forced off in the 40th minute and replaced by Reda Belahyane.
Lazio manager Marco Baroni addressed the injury after the match, expressing concerns over the midfielder’s recovery time.
“We have to verify his condition. He felt pain when he took that shot. Playing every two or three days, it’s going to be difficult to get him recovered for the next match,” Baroni told DAZN.
Before his substitution, Dele-Bashiru had completed 24 of his 26 passes, recorded 30 touches, and attempted one key pass in what was shaping up to be another solid midfield display.
According to reports from Italy, the Midfielder could be sidelined until after the March international break, potentially ruling him out of Nigeria’s qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
This would be a significant blow to Eric Chelle, who is already under pressure to turn around Nigeria’s faltering World Cup qualification campaign.
The team currently sits fifth in Group C with just three points from four matches, leaving little margin for error in the upcoming fixtures.
So far this season, Dele-Bashiru has made 22 appearances for Lazio, scoring five goals and providing two assists.
In Serie A, he has featured 16 times, starting six matches, and has maintained an impressive 91% passing accuracy.
Dele-Bashiru joined Lazio on a season-long loan from Turkish side Hatayspor, with the Italian club holding an option to buy him for €7 million.
If they activate the clause, his contract could extend until 2028.
Meanwhile, his performances have attracted interest from top European clubs, with Premier League giants Arsenal and Manchester City, as well as Serie A heavyweights Juventus, reportedly monitoring his progress.
Lazio will conduct further tests to determine the extent of his injury, with fans and club officials hopeful for a quick recovery.
