Hope Akpan: ruled out for two weeks

Super Eagles’ midfielder Hope Akpan, who was injured on Saturday in Pointe Noire in a 2015 AFCON Qualifier, will be out of action for at least two weeks.

The Reading FC player twisted his left arm in the 53rd minute of the Congo/Nigeria match and was substituted by England-based Sone Aluko.

Team doctor Ibrahim Gyaran said the midfielder who plays in the Championship in England would need two weeks to recover and return to action.

“Though, the injury is not too serious, but it will take him at least two weeks to recover, including the rehabilitation period before returning to action,’’ he said.

The Eagles’ duo of Azubuike Egwuekwe and Akpan were injured during the game, and on returning to Nigeria, the two players had received more treatment.

After the team arrived in Uyo, Akpan was conveyed in a special ambulance to the Government House Clinic for another x-ray.

Gyaran was later battling to ensure Egwuekwe got all necessary treatment to be fit for Wednesday’s decider since his own injury was a cut just above the left eye.

The central defender got the injury in fourth minute of the match, but managed to play the game till the end with a bandaged head.

The team is scheduled to host South Africa in Uyo on Wednesday in their final Group A match in the qualifiers.