Hernandez to Miss Equatorial Guinea’s Sudan Qualifier Clash

Defender Aridane Hernandez is set to spend one month on the sidelines after picking up an injury this week which could see him ruled out for Equatorial Guinea’s thrilling match with Sudan.

Doctors of his Spanish club Osasuna have now confirmed the extent of his injury and expect the Canary Islands-born centre back to be out of action for four weeks.

The 29-year-old will arrive at the Navarra University Hospital on Sunday for an operation to be conducted by renowned ankle-injury specialist at the facility.

This means he will not be available for Equatorial Guinea’s clash with Sudan in Malabo next month but could be fit to play for the Nzalang National when they take on Madagascar in October in another 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

Equatorial Guinea play the Nile Crocodiles on 7th September, an encounter that would have by then seen Hernandez recuperate fully.

As a result, Osasuna will have to make do without him in their opening two matches of the Segunda Division (second tier) as they play Mallorca and Eleche.

Hernandez had an impressive debut season for Osasuna which saw him earn a call-up to the Equatorial Guinea national side last year.

He helped the Los Rojillo to eighth place finish in the 2017-2018 campaign and is hoping the club can improve on that next season.

Hermandez was part of a formidable three-man defence alongside David Zubiria and Nacho Vidal.

He made 24 appearances last season, scoring twice in the process.