No World Cup chance for Obafemi Martins after injury

by Graeme Jackson

Thursday Apr 05, 2018. 15:00

Any slim hope Obafemi Martins had of playing for Nigeria at the 2018 World Cup has been snuffed out after he suffered a torn hamstring earlier this week.

The 33-year-old’s injury was confirmed by his Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua on Wednesday, following their Asian Champions League clash against Kashima Antlers the previous day.

Martins was carried off midway through the first half of the match which ended 2-2. He is expected to be sidelined for six to seven months.

The former Newcastle United and Internazionale player was rumoured to be on the radar of Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr, and demonstrated his form with a hat-trick this past weekend in a 4-2 Chinese Super League win over Hebei China Fortune.

However, this hamstring tear means he will certainly not be joining the Super Eagles for their trip to Russia in June.