Roma lose Evan Ndicka for season, Ivory Coast World Cup place in doubt
Quick summary
Reports in Italy say Roma centre-back Evan Ndicka has suffered a second-degree right hamstring injury that will end his club season. The setback also puts his availability for Ivory Coast at the 2026 World Cup in doubt.
What happened
Italian reports state that Evan Ndicka suffered a second-degree lesion in his right hamstring during Roma's Serie A derby against Lazio. He will miss Roma's final league game of the season away to Hellas Verona, ending his 2025-26 campaign. The injury is expected to keep him out for several weeks, creating a serious risk that he misses the start of Ivory Coast's World Cup campaign. Ndicka had been a regular starter for Roma whenever available, so his absence removes a key defensive presence for both club and country.
Chance analysis
This matters because Ndicka has been a high-usage, first-choice centre-back, so his absence weakens Roma's defensive continuity and depth immediately. For Ivory Coast, the timing is more significant: a hamstring injury less than a month before the World Cup raises real doubt over his readiness for the opening matches and may force lineup adjustments.
Roma lose a regular starting centre-back now, and Ivory Coast may be without Ndicka at the start of the World Cup.
Treat this as a meaningful negative defensive availability signal for Roma short term and Ivory Coast early-World-Cup projections.