Gabriela Salgado undergoes surgery after gruesome injury in Banyana's Wafcon exit
Image: Nour Aknajja/BackpagePix
The South African Football Association has given an update on Gabriela Salgado, who suffered a horror injury in Banyana Banyana's heartbreaking Women's Africa Cup of Nations semi-final loss on Tuesday.
With the game evenly poised at 1-1 and entering the final minutes, Salgado collided with a Nigerian opponent, leaving nearby teammates visibly distressed. After being stabilised by paramedics, she was later stretchered off the field, with Nigerian fans chanting 'Gabby! Gabby! Gabby!'
The South Africans never recovered after the incident, and Nigeria were able to capitalise through a stoppage-time winner by Michelle Alozie, sending them to the final and knocking Desiree Ellis' team out of the tournament.
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Salgado was taken to the Mohamed VI University Hospital in Casablanca, where she had to undergo surgery.
'Gabi sustained a fracture of the mid-shaft of her left leg during the fixture against Nigeria and underwent a successful surgery,' said Banyana Banyana team doctor, Dr Lindi Mokoena.
'She will be out of action for the rest of the year, but we are pleased that she received exceptional care from the medical team of Banyana Banyana, CAF, and the hospital.
'We were fully confident and comfortable with the procedure being performed in Morocco and would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to CAF and the dedicated staff at the Mohamed VI University Hospital for their professionalism and outstanding support during this time.'
On Wednesday, Salgado, in hospital, received a message of encouragement from South African president Cyril Ramaphosa.
'Today, our thoughts are with Banyana Banyana's Gabriela Salgado as we wish her a comfortable and speedy recovery from her traumatic injury in last night's WAFCON semi-final against a victorious Nigeria,' a statement from the president read.
'I know you're a woman of deep and public faith, Gabriela, and you're a woman of bravery and skill on the pitch. The nation wishes you well. Casablanca was always going to be a tough ask for our national team as Africa's defending champions, and Nigeria's breakthrough in referee's optional time proved this.
'We are confident Banyana Banyana will regroup and return to WAFCON as future champs. We wish Nigeria's Super Falcons and Morocco's Atlas Lionesses well for Saturday's dream home final for the host nation.'
Banyana will go up against Ghana in Friday's third-place play-off.
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