Etebo talks about his injury struggles

Super Eagles midfielder Peter Etebo has finally shared his thoughts on the injuries that kept him out last season. He is now looking forward to a fresh start with Turkish club Genclerbirligi, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.

Etebo has now missed playing for the Super Eagles for 1,345 days. Injuries have halted what once looked like a bright international career.

Genclerbirligi spent a lot of the 2025/26 Turkish Super Lig season fighting to stay up. They entered the last match knowing they needed to win to avoid relegation. A three-nil victory over Trabzonspor at Papara Park saved them from going down and sent Antalyaspor to the drop.

But the 30-year-old couldn't help his team in this battle for survival. He ruptured his Achilles tendon during training. This injury kept him out for almost the whole season. Other muscle injuries also slowed his recovery.

Etebo's only competitive match of the season was on August 9. He started against Samsunspor but was substituted after just 42 minutes in a two-one loss. He ended the season with only one appearance, playing for 42 minutes with no goals and no assists.

As the new season approaches, Etebo reflected on the challenges from the last campaign. He said, “No one wants to experience the difficulties we faced last season. We are continuing our preparations accordingly. If we want to remember last year, we left behind a very complicated season with many coaching and presidency changes and elections. But no matter what, we managed to stay in the league, even if it was in the last match.”

Etebo also highlighted the club’s rich history. He asked fans to be patient as the team starts a new season. He said, “My message to the fans is this: of course, I know they do not want us to succeed.

“Last year was a difficult year. But when you look at it, there is a 103-year-old club here, a club with a tremendous history, a club that has been successful and is hungry for more success. But, of course, it is up to us, the players, to make it happen. I promise we will do our best. Of course, we will see together where we are at the end of the season.”

While Etebo concentrates on club football, Nigerian fans still remember what he has done in the national team. He has played 44 times for the Super Eagles and is known as a hardworking midfielder. But he has not played for Nigeria in over three years. His last game was a friendly loss to Portugal in November 2022.

Etebo's place in Nigerian football history was secure long before his injury problems began. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, he became the first Nigerian to score four goals in one Olympic match. He helped the Dream Team to a thrilling five-four win over Japan on their way to a bronze medal.

He also stood out at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. He started all three group matches under coach Gernot Rohr. Earlier, he won the 2015 CAF Most Promising Talent Award after being the top scorer at the CAF Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations.