West Brom manager Carlos Corberan says Super Eagles defender Semi Ajayi is in perfect condition to face Oxford City in Saturday’s Championship clash.
Recall that Ajayi was part of the Super Eagles squad that was ‘held hostage’ in Al Abraq Airport prior to a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya on Tuesday night, which was subsequently postponed.
Speaking ahead of Albion’s trip to Kassam Stadium this weekend, Corberan told the club’s website that the situation was completely out of the club’s control, although they had been in contact with the 30-year-old.
“The club was in contact. It was not easy, we have to adapt to the situation. It is true that he didn’t have the minutes that normally he usually is getting when travelling but at the same time he was having minutes before he went.”
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“It has been a strange situation but something that is totally out of our control. What we can do is to adapt and find the best way to help him to recover and make him ready for the game. That is what we can control,” Corberan explained.
He added: “I think it is enough, Thursday and Friday, because it is not the first time I have done this with the players. It’s different preparation. You would like to have the players always during the week but when they go with their national team always they have these challenges and we need to adapt to them.
“There is a reason why the players go with their national team because they are good players in their country and this is an important thing too. Paddy (McNair) for example has played two 90 minutes for his country and for me this is an amazing thing for us. Because for us he was not playing so for me it is more positive, the game time. Semi didn’t play but he was playing minutes in a row (for us) so probably this small rest is not going to be negative for him.”
