Lens will be without Nigerian midfielder Hamzat Ojediran after he sustained an injury during his team’s 1-1 away draw against Stade Rennes in Ligue 1 last weekend.
The 20-year-old midfielder, who came on as a substitute, was forced off with a hamstring injury, adding to the club’s growing injury concerns.
The match saw Rennes take the lead in the first half through a penalty before M'Bala Nzola rescued a point for Lens with a late equalizer.
However, the game took a bad turn for the visitors as Ojediran and teammate Florian Sotoca suffered injuries, leaving the club in a difficult situation.
Ojediran replaced Sotoca, who also got injured in the first half, at halftime but had to leave the field just a few minutes before the final whistle due to his injury.
Hamstring injury for young Nigerian Hamzat Ojediran
The midfielder was seen in visible discomfort, clutching his thigh as he was helped off the pitch. After medical evaluation, it was confirmed that he had suffered a hamstring injury, with no timeline for his recovery yet.
The absence of Hamzat Ojediran could disrupt the Lens' momentum as they aim to push for European qualification this season.
According to French sports outlet L'Équipe, Ojediran was seen limping through the mixed zone after the match, and there is currently no set date for his return to action.
Ojediran, who represented Nigeria at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Brazil in 2019, joined Lens from Hungarian side Debrecen for €400,000 in the summer.
Despite his limited game time, with three appearances this season, all coming off the bench, the young midfielder has shown promise and was expected to play a larger role as the season progressed.