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Lazio Fisayo Dele-Bashiru Sidelined With Injury, Doubtful for Nigeria’s World Cup Qualifiers
Lazio midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru has been ruled out for about a month after suffering a muscle injury, raising concerns about his availability for Nigeria’s crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying matches in October.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The Italian club confirmed Thursday that the 23-year-old picked up a lesion to the femoral bicep in his right leg. The injury means he could miss Nigeria’s final two qualifiers of the year against Lesotho and Benin.
Doctors estimate Dele-Bashiru will need at least four weeks of recovery. That timeline places his return in early November, leaving little chance of him joining the national team during the October international window.
Key blow for Nigeria
Dele-Bashiru has become an important part of Nigeria’s midfield since making his debut earlier this year. His energy, vision, and ability to link defense with attack have earned him praise from fans and coaches alike.
Nigeria is currently chasing a spot at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The team sits in a tight qualifying group where every point is crucial. Missing a key midfielder like Dele-Bashiru could hurt their chances against Lesotho and Benin.
Head coach Finidi George is expected to announce his squad in the coming weeks. The coach now faces the challenge of reshaping his midfield options without one of his promising young players.
Club setback
The injury is also a blow for Lazio, who signed Dele-Bashiru during the summer transfer window. The Italian Serie A side had hoped to ease him into their system, and he had already shown flashes of his potential in early season games.
In a short statement, Lazio said the player would undergo treatment and rehabilitation under the supervision of the club’s medical team. The club did not give an exact date for his return but confirmed it would be “no less than one month.”
Supporters had been eager to see how the Nigerian midfielder could adapt to top-flight Italian football after his move from Hatayspor in Turkey. His absence will limit Lazio’s midfield rotation during a busy run of league and European fixtures.
International implications
Nigeria’s final two games of 2025 are especially important. The Super Eagles have a strong record against Lesotho, but the away match against Benin is expected to be more difficult.
Analysts believe Nigeria cannot afford to drop points if they want to stay ahead in the race for World Cup qualification. The potential absence of Dele-Bashiru adds another challenge to a squad already dealing with injuries to other key players.
Sports commentator Tunde Babalola said the news could force Nigeria to change its style of play. “Dele-Bashiru brings a lot of balance to the midfield,” he said. “Without him, the team may have to rely more on experienced players like Wilfred Ndidi or Alex Iwobi.”
Rising star
Born in Hamburg, Germany, to Nigerian parents, Dele-Bashiru grew up in England and began his professional career at Manchester City before moving to Sheffield Wednesday. He represented England at youth level but later committed to Nigeria, making his senior debut in 2024.
His decision to play for Nigeria was celebrated by fans who saw him as part of a new generation of talent for the national team. His strong performances in friendlies and qualifiers quickly established him as a player to watch.
What’s next
For now, Dele-Bashiru will focus on recovery in Rome. If his rehabilitation goes well, he could return in time for Lazio’s November fixtures. Nigeria, meanwhile, must prepare to face Lesotho on October 10 and Benin on October 14 without him.
The injury serves as a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in football. Both Lazio and Nigeria will be hoping Dele-Bashiru makes a swift and complete recovery.
According to Nivo News, the General Overseer of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, has declared what he described as divine judgment on bandits and their alleged sponsors responsible for insecurity across parts of Nigeria.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Speaking on Sunday at the church’s headquarters in Ota, Ogun State, during a sermon themed “Covenant Day of Vengeance,” Oyedepo stated that those behind killings, kidnappings, and violent attacks would face divine retribution. He further claimed that within the next seven days, consequences would begin to manifest against those he accused of fueling unrest in the country, assuring worshippers that the coming week would be marked by “testimonies of vengeance.”
He was quoted as saying that judgment had been pronounced on individuals responsible for such acts and their supporters, adding that the outcome he referenced would unfold within a week.
In a related remark during a recent midweek service, Oyedepo also acknowledged the presence of fraudsters within and outside religious spaces, warning that his identity and images were being exploited for fraudulent schemes. He urged members of his congregation to remain vigilant and committed to truth to avoid falling victim to scams involving impersonation.
He recounted a case where an individual allegedly posed as him in an attempt to defraud unsuspecting victims, noting that such incidents highlight the growing sophistication of fraudulent activities.
A political disagreement has emerged within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State following Governor Abdullahi Sule’s reported endorsement of Senator Aliyu Wadada as his preferred successor ahead of the 2027 governorship election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to Nivo News, the move has sparked tension between the governor and his predecessor, Umar Tanko Al-Makura, who faulted the decision, describing it as premature and not properly consulted within party structures.
Al-Makura, a prominent figure in the state’s political landscape, expressed displeasure that he only became aware of the endorsement through media reports. He argued that the decision should have involved wider consultation, warning that such early endorsements could undermine internal party processes.
He further noted that the APC had not begun its formal nomination process, insisting that declaring support for a candidate at this stage was inappropriate and ahead of schedule.
The controversy was further heightened by former Inspector-General of Police, Muhammad Adamu, who is also aspiring for the APC governorship ticket. He rejected the endorsement, stating that no individual has the authority to impose a candidate, and reaffirmed his intention to contest in the party primaries.
In response, Governor Sule, through his media aide, defended the endorsement, stating that it was consistent with political traditions in the state. He referenced past succession arrangements, including Al-Makura’s own endorsement of him, arguing that the current process was in line with established practice but being conducted more transparently.
The governor’s camp clarified that Senator Wadada remains a preferred aspirant and not the party’s official candidate.
Senator Wadada, reacting to the development, called for calm among party members, describing the situation as part of normal political competition. He also downplayed tensions with other aspirants, noting that the contest should be seen as a democratic process.
Meanwhile, support for Adamu continues to grow in parts of Nasarawa South, where youths, women, and stakeholders have openly backed his ambition, alongside broader endorsements for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Adamu, however, maintained that he remains firmly in the race, accusing some political actors of inconsistency in the unfolding succession dynamics.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has described as unnecessary the denial issued by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) regarding an invitation allegedly extended to him for the groundbreaking ceremony of an ecumenical chapel at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to Nivo News, the Sultan’s media team maintained that an official invitation was duly sent to His Eminence requesting his attendance as Royal Father of the Day. The statement explained that the event also listed key dignitaries, including the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, as Distinguished Guest of Honour, and Senator Oluremi Tinubu as Mother of the Day.
The Sultan’s office emphasised that his participation in the proposed Christian event would promote interfaith harmony, noting his role as Co-Chairman of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC). It added that globally, religious leaders often engage in events outside their faith traditions as part of efforts to encourage unity and peaceful coexistence.
The response follows an earlier clarification from CAN, which denied issuing any invitation to the Sultan and stated that the document circulating in public was not from the association. CAN further explained that the communication in question originated from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and insisted that it had no involvement in inviting the Sultan to the event.
While acknowledging that the SGF’s office was linked to the invitation process, the Sultan’s media team expressed concern over CAN’s denial, describing it as unnecessary and capable of creating misunderstanding, especially since the Sultan did not request to attend the ceremony.
The statement also urged religious bodies to focus on messages that strengthen unity and promote peaceful coexistence among Nigerians of different faiths and ethnic backgrounds.
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