BEIJING (BN24) — Togolese international footballer Samuel Asamoah faces a potentially career-ending injury after breaking his neck in a freak accident during a Chinese League One match, his club confirmed this week.
The 31-year-old midfielder, currently playing for Guangxi Pingguo, was injured on Sunday after he was shoved by an opponent while competing for the ball. Video footage from the match shows Asamoah crashing head-first into an LED advertising board positioned just off the field. The impact resulted in multiple fractures to his neck and significant nerve damage.
Following the incident, Asamoah underwent surgery. On Monday, Guangxi Pingguo released a statement warning of the severity of the injury, saying he was at risk of “high-level paraplegia” and would miss the remainder of the season. The club also acknowledged the possibility that the injury could threaten his professional football career.
By Wednesday, the team reported that Asamoah was in stable condition and recovering post-surgery. “Guangxi Pingguo FC sincerely thanks all fans and all walks of life for their concern and support for Samuel Asamoah,” the statement read. The club added that updates on his recovery would follow further medical examinations.
Asamoah, who joined Guangxi Pingguo last year after spending much of his career in Belgium, has represented Togo internationally on six occasions.
The incident has sparked concern over player safety in Chinese football. However, Chinese authorities and state-backed media outlet The Paper stated the advertising board was placed three meters (approximately 10 feet) from the pitch, aligning with international safety regulations.
The opposing player involved in the collision, Chongqing Tonglianglong midfielder Zhang Zhixiong, received a yellow card for the challenge.
As football fans await further news, Asamoah’s condition has prompted an outpouring of support from across the sporting world, with attention now focused on his long road to recovery.
