TheCable

Super Eagles midfielder Babatunde Michael has undergone successful surgery on his fractured wrist and has since returned to the team’s base in Campinas, ahead of the trip to Brasilia for the second round clash with France.

However, his teammate Ogenyi Onazi, whose shot did the damage, jokingly said that Babatunde stopped his goal-bound effort.

“I swear, that was a sure goal if not for Tunde’s hand. I wish him quick recovery,” he said.

Head Coach Stephen Keshi told the team’s media officer, Ben Alaiya, that Babatunde has been ruled out of the tournament because it will take at least three weeks for that surgery to heal.

He urged Nigerians not to fret over the development, as there are capable replacements for the player.

“It’s not looking good that he will [not] feature again in the tournament,” Keshi said.

“We are sad about that, but we have people who can fill in for him very well and I think we have to go win for him now.”