RENTON, Wash. (AP) – Belgian midfielder Amadou Onana will miss the remainder of the game after injuring his right knee in the 19th minute of Monday’s 4-1 win over the United States in the Round of 16. world cup.
In a statement released by the Belgian Football Federation, team doctor Brahim Hasen said a medical examination confirmed that Onana had torn the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his knee.
“This is shocking news, both for him personally and for the team,” Hasen said.
Onana, 24, played in four World Cup games for Belgium and made his second start of the tournament against the United States. Onana also played in two games at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, scoring a goal in one. A 5-2 victory over the United States in the World Cup warm-up match in March.. He was replaced by Hans Vanaken in the 21st minute on Monday and scored one of Belgium’s four goals.
Onana has been with Aston Villa in the Premier League since 2024 and previously played for Everton.
“We immediately consulted with Amadou and Aston Villa and agreed on the best approach for his recovery,” Hasen said. “Over the coming days, we will jointly determine the next steps in his treatment and rehabilitation. Throughout this process, we will continue to provide Amadou with our full support.”
Onana will remain in the quarter-finals against the Red Devils. 2010 Champions Spain They will play for a spot in the semifinals against either France or Morocco on Friday in Inglewood, California. There were no other serious injuries to the Belgian squad, the statement said.
Although he did not start for Belgium on Monday, midfielder Jeremy Doku took part in training on Tuesday after coming off the bench as his fitness remains an issue. So did midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, who did not play on Monday.
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