 |
| Bright Dike of the Super Eagles of Nigeria |
I am personally very disappointed that Bright Dike, one of my very favourite players for the Super Eagles of Nigeria could miss the world cup due to the recent operation he just had on his
archilles.The operation was a success but time is fast running out for Dike to be match fit inn time for selection.
The striker after the operation expressed appreciation for the “many kinds words” he has received after undergoing surgery on his injured Achilles.
The 27-year-old wrote on microblogging social media network Twitter that the “surgery went well.”
“Surgery went well I’m blessed to receive so many kind words. I thank God for the people around me. Now I’m passing out for at least 10 hours,” Dike wrote via his Twitter handle on Thursday.
Already reports suggest that the former Portland Timbers man has been ruled out of the Major League Soccer (MLS) for the rest of the season as well as the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil billed to kick off in June.
But Nigeria manager, Stephen Keshi, has refused to rule out the burly striker until he gets “the real facts of the matter.”
Dike, who was set to play for Nigeria against Mexico in a friendly on 5 March, wrote on Twitter when the injury occurred that,the Monday was the “worst day of my life”.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had said Dike’s injury is a massive blow.
“It is such a shame that we have lost a player of his calibre for the friendly against Mexico and possibly the World Cup,” NFF’s spokesman Ademola Olajire told BBC Sport.
“Bright Dike is a top professional and very humble guy. It is a blow for him personally, and for both his club Toronto FC and Nigeria.”
MLS club Toronto FC issued a statement on Dike’s status on Monday evening, saying he “sustained a leg injury on Monday morning while practicing with the team in Orlando, Florida. He will return to Toronto on Tuesday for further evaluation by the team’s medical staff”.
Dike, who has recently returned from a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee, scored his second goal in as many starts for the Super Eagles in November’s 2-2 friendly draw against Italy.
His first international goal against Catalonia in January was not enough to earn him a place in the 2013 African Cup of Nations squad.
But in November, Dike told BBC Sport that he would fight to force his way into Nigeria’s squad for the World Cup and he had earned his chance to impress after being called up by coach Stephen Keshi for next month’s friendly.