Nigeria's Michael Babatunde is taken from the pitch during the group F World Cup soccer match between Nigeria and Argentina at the Estadio Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Wednesday, June 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) (The Associated Press)
RIO DE JANEIRO – Nigeria midfielder Michael Babatunde has been ruled out of the rest of the World Cup after breaking his arm when a teammate's shot hit him in the group game against Argentina.
The Nigeria Football Federation and coach Stephen Keshi said Thursday that Babatunde had successful surgery on his fractured right wrist but will need at least three weeks to recover.
The teammate who kicked the ball, fellow midfielder Ogenyi Onazi, joked about the incident in a statement from the NFF, saying "I swear that was a sure goal if not for (his) hand." Onazi said he wishes Babatunde a "quick recovery."
Babatunde started Nigeria's last two group games, a 1-0 win over Bosnia and Wednesday's 3-2 loss to Argentina. Nigeria plays France in the last 16.
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