Ogenyi Onazi Injury: Updates on Nigeria Star's Status and Return

Updates from Saturday, July 5

Onazi reported the latest on his status:

Update from Wednesday, July 2

Blaise Matuidi will not be hit with a suspension for the challenge that led to Ogenyi Onazi's withdrawal during Nigeria's World Cup Last-16 loss to France.

ESPN's Jonathan Johnson tweeted the following:

Original Text

Nigeria's Ogenyi Onazi had to be withdrawn from his side's round of 16 tie against France on Monday after a horror tackle from Blaise Matuidi left him in a heap during the second period of their World Cup clash.

The Telegraph's Paul Hayward confirmed the extent of the apparent ankle injury, while James Olley of the London Evening Standard said that Matuidi should have been punished with more than the resulting yellow card:

Meanwhile, BBC pundits Mark Bright and Robbie Savage both agree that the challenge looked as though it may have done serious damage to the midfielder:

Reuben Gabriel came on to replace Onazi with the score level at 0-0 at the time, with some of Les Bleus evidently willing to go to great lengths in order to seal their quarter-final place.   

Nigeria conceded the fixture's opener not long after the Lazio playmaker was substituted off, but his involvement in the competition would nonetheless have been in serious doubt as a result of the challenge.