Main PageJohn Ogu: Super Eagles midfielder tried all he could to be fit for his moment against Algeria
Ogu reveals how he recovered early from an injury to be fit for Super Eagles game against Algeria.
After his Man of the Match performance for Nigeria in their 1-1 draw away at Algeria on Friday, November 11, midfielder John Ogu has revealed how he recovered from an injury to play in the game.
With a series of injuries in the Super Eagles squad, Ogu started his first game for Nigeria for over two years and put in a Man of the Match display which he capped with a 62nd-minute goal.
Ogu dominated the midfield with his overall play; spraying the ball and tackling and also capped it with a goal, pouncing on a clearance before rifling a left-footed shot in the bottom corner.
A tear in his sartorius muscle which he suffered in Hapoel Be'er Sheva’s Europa League game against Steaua Bucharest on Thursday, October 19 almost ruled him out of this game and this memorable moment.
“October 20, in a game against Steaua Bucharest in our UEFA cup match, I had a little tear in my sartorius muscle that forced me out of the game. I usually don’t go out from games but that night it was painful so I did,” the 28-year-old midfielder wrote on his Twitter account.
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“Weekend of that same weekend, we were to play against Maccabi Tel Aviv which is a very important game for my club. Training on Saturday, I wanted to play with me begging our doctors to inject me. But they refused because they don’t want to risk it.”
Sensing his opportunity to play for the Super Eagles after a long time, the 28-year-old midfielder did all he could to recover from the injury.
“I was thinking also of this day and moment in my career. So I went for Ultrasound and it was that I had a tear and I will be out for 4 weeks they said,” Ogu added.
“Thank God for the Gene he blesses me with. I told them I will be back in 2weeks.
“I spent my own money to visit a specialist, went for therapy with my team 3 times. Spent also on Orthotics to fit in my boots.
“Came back exactly in 2weeks just to be back to represent my country. Missed 2 league games and Europa League game.”
Despite his fantastic performance, Ogu also revealed that he is not looking 100% sharp yet.
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