Togolese international footballer, Samuel Asamoah, has sustained a serious neck injury after a violent collision with a pitch-side advertising board during a Chinese League One fixture, sparking fears that he may be left paralysed.
The incident occurred on Sunday when the 31-year-old Guangxi Pingguo midfielder was pushed by an opposing player while contesting for the ball, sending him head-first into an LED advertising panel beside the pitch.
In a statement released by the club, Guangxi Pingguo confirmed that Asamoah suffered neck fractures and nerve damage, necessitating emergency surgery.
“He is at risk of high-level paraplegia and will miss all remaining games this season. His career may also be seriously affected,” the club announced on Monday.
However, in an update on Wednesday, the club reported that Asamoah had successfully undergone surgery and was now in stable condition.
“Guangxi Pingguo FC sincerely thanks all fans and well-wishers for their concern and support for Samuel Asamoah. His recovery progress will be shared following further medical evaluations,” the club said in a statement obtained by Hobnob News.
Asamoah, who began his professional career in Belgium, moved to China in 2023. He has earned six international caps for Togo, according to statistics from Transfermarkt.
Following the incident, Chinese football authorities confirmed that the advertising display was installed three metres from the field, in compliance with international safety standards.
The opposing player involved, Zhang Zhixiong of Chongqing Tonglianglong, was issued a yellow card for his role in the collision.
Fans and fellow players across Africa and Asia have since taken to social media to express their shock and send messages of solidarity and recovery to Asamoah.
