Hope for Hope

Hope Akpan won't play at the Uyo Stadium. Yet

There has been good news for Hope Akpan after X-Rays showed that his shoulder injury was a dislocation rather than a fracture.

The Reading midfielder landed heavily after going up for an aerial ball in Nigeria's 2-0 win at Congo, and it was feared that he has suffered a fracture.

But x-rays showed no broken bones, and the midfielder is now expected to be back in action sooner than earlier expected.

However, he will not be fit in time to face South Africa at his hometown stadium on Wednesday

"I cried when I realized I won't be able to play here," Hope told ColinUdoh.com on Monday. "This is where my family come from and I was really looking forward to playing here."