Esteghlal fullback Yamga out for rest of the season with eye injury
Esteghlal fullback Kevin Yamga’s season has come to a premature ending after the Frenchman suffered an eye injury during a training session, the Persian Gulf Pro League club’s head coach Javad Nekounam confirmed on Monday.
The career-threatening injury came after Yamga’s collision with teammate Omid Hamedifar weeks ago before he underwent several surgeries on his left eye.
Yet to have his sight fully restored, the versatile right-back played his part in helping the Tehran Blues lead the Iranian top-flight table before the Asian Cup pause, bagging four goals in 15 appearances – including a last-gasp equalizer from the spot against Persepolis in the Tehran Derby.
Esteghlal is one point clear of Sepahan on top the league table, with Persepolis in third, two points adrift of its city rival.
Yamga’s injury comes as a massive blow for Nekounam, who is frustrated by his team’s lack of activity in the midseason transfer window.
The club’s only signing has seen Brazilian center-back rejoin after parting ways with the Blues at the end of the previous campaign, while Esteghlal is reportedly in advanced talks with Golgohar Sirjan to sign Mahdi Tikdari as a replacement for Yamga.
Meanwhile, Saeid Mehri, who terminated his contract with Esteghlal two weeks ago, was unveiled as a new midfielder at the Cypriot First Division leader APOEL Nicosia, where he will reunite with the Blues’ former Portuguese head coach Ricardo Sá Pinto.