February 20, (THEWILL) – Nigeria’s Valentine Ozornwafor lost consciousness twice on the pitch during a Belgian Jupiler Pro League fixture, but his club RSC Charleroi has provided a comforting update on the Super Eagles player’s condition.
Ozornwafor, who is a central defender for the Belgian side, was in action in their 3-0 loss to Royale Union Saint Gilloise on Saturday night. In the 46th minute, the Nigerian international had to be stretchered off the field after being smacked in the face by RUSG striker Dante Vanzeir in an off-the-ball incident.
Ozornwafor was substituted after falling to the ground with his hands over his face for a few minutes, while Vanzeir was correctly sent off by the referee after consulting with the VAR and going through the replays on the pitch-side monitor.
RSC Charleroi confirmed shortly after the game, at Stade du Pays de Charleroi, that the Galatasaray loanee is fine but will be closely and continuously monitored.
Taking to their official Twitter handle, Charleroi posted: “The first news about our defender Valentine Ozornwafor is reassuring. After losing consciousness twice in the field, he is now conscious and will remain under observation, according to the concussion protocol.”
Before the visit of table-toppers Royale Union Saint Gilloise, Ozornwafor had gone the distance in five consecutive matches in the division.
Ozornwafor is on loan from Turkish giants Galatasaray to the Belgian club. Saturday’s game was his ninth in the league during his poor loan tenure in Belgium
At the time Ozornwafor was pulled off the pitch, Edward Still’s team was already two goals down. Table-toppers Union SG took the lead thanks to goals from Christian Burgess and Jean Thierry Lazare.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
