Nakamba Blow For Zimbabwe as Aston Villa Midfielder is Ruled Out of Africa Cup of Nations

Aston Villa midfielder Marvelous Nakamba has been ruled out of action for the next four months due a knee injury, and will miss the Super Warriors’ participation at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Nakamba, who has been in superb form in recent weeks for the English Premier League side, was set to marshal the midfield for Zimbabwe in Cameroon in late January, but a knock forced him out while playing Liverpool on Saturday.

Villa coach Steve Gerrard told the club website on Friday that midfielder underwent a successful surgery and he requires three to four months to recover.

“He’s had successful surgery,” said Gerrard.“The surgeon is really happy with his operation and how it’s gone and now he’ll start his recovery process and recovery plan.

“He’s going to be missing for somewhere in the region of 12 weeks if it is a fantastic rehab or it could be up to 16 weeks.

“It will be somewhere in the middle of 12-16 weeks.”

Nakamba, who was recently voted the club’s Player of the Month for November, has made 14 appearances in all competitions this season.

The 27-year-old joined Villa in July 2019 from Belgium side Brugge, an outfit that recruited him in 2017 from Vitesse Arnhem in 2017.

He played 2019 Africa Cup of Nations and is the fourth Zimbabwean to feature in the Premier League after Bruce Globbelaar, Peter Ndlovu and Bejani who was the country’s most recent Premier League player in 2010/11.