Slavia Prague CB Ogbu faces several weeks on the sidelines after suffering facial fracture

Slavia Prague will be without key central defender Igoh Ogbu for their upcoming matches after the Nigerian suffered a serious injury during the club's league match versus Viktoria Plzen this past weekend.

Just past the midway point of the first half, the former Nigeria U20 international had to leave the pitch on a stretcher after colliding head-on with Viktoria Plzen duo Kopic and Svetozar Markovic in the penalty area.

It was initially assumed that he had suffered a head injury but further tests revealed a fractured zygomatic arch and he is set to undergo surgery in the coming days. 

Slavia Prague coach Jindrich Trpisovsky was careful not to put a timeframe on Ogbu's return to action but suggested he might be fit by late autumn, which implies the defender will spend several weeks out and likely won't return until December 2024, if his rehabilitation goes according to plan.

Ogbu's injury is very similar to the one suffered by Slavia Prague captain Jan Bořil, but it's a bit more severe.

Ogbu is one of the first names on the team sheet, starting all the twelve matches played by Slavia Prague this term and has been impressive in the heart of defence.

The 24-year-old helped the young Czech goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky (21) post seven clean sheets from a possible eight in the Chance Liga since the start of the season.

Slavia Prague flew to Bulgaria on Monday, where they will face Ludogorets Razgrad on Wednesday in the first round of the league phase of the Europa League, without their Nigerian star available for selection. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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