Football: Nigeria World Cup Blow As Keeper Limps Out

Muhammad Rameez Published November 02, 2016 | 11:55 PM

ABUJA, , (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 02nd Nov, 2016 ) - Nigeria suffered a major blow Wednesday when first choice goalkeeper Carl Ikeme was ruled out of their crucial World Cup qualifier at home against Algeria later this month with a hip injury, officials said.

Ikeme, 30, who plays for English second division side Wolves, suffered the injury at the weekend in the a game against Blackburn Rovers. "Yes, he's out of the Algeria match due to injury," said Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) spokesman, Ademola Olajire.

Ikeme has established himself as the country's number one goalkeeper since his debut in an African Cup of Nations qualifier in Tanzania in September 2015. He was man of the match in the 2-1 win over Zambia in Ndola last month in the team's opening World Cup qualifier.