West Bromwich Albion defender Semi Ajayi is facing uncertainty regarding his availability for the pivotal Championship match against Oxford United on Saturday. The 30-year-old has just returned from international duty with the Nigerian Super Eagles, where he was a last-minute substitute in the team’s narrow 1-0 victory over Libya at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
Ajayi and his teammates endured a distressing ordeal in Libya, marked by unsportsmanlike behavior from the Libyan government and football association. The Super Eagles were stranded at La Abraq Airport for over 13 hours, lacking basic necessities such as food and internet access. Team captain William Troost-Ekong publicly addressed the situation on his official X account, emphasizing that the Super Eagles would not participate in the scheduled away match against Libya due to safety concerns.
While the Super Eagles have returned safely to Nigeria, questions linger about Ajayi’s fitness ahead of West Brom’s crucial encounter against Oxford United, which could see Carlos Corberan’s side potentially take the top spot in the EFL Championship. Currently, West Brom sits two points behind leaders Sunderland.
Ajayi has been a crucial part of the Baggies’ defensive unit this season, starting all nine of their Championship matches and contributing to five clean sheets. However, the club’s management is now focused on assessing his condition, especially as discussions continue about a possible rematch between Nigeria and Libya. As the situation develops, West Brom will be eager to determine Ajayi’s status ahead of the important fixture.