AS Kigali midfielder Eric Nsabimana has been ruled out for the rest of the season after sustaining a minor compression fracture on his neck in Tuesday’s 4-1 defeat to SC Kiyovu.

With 15 minutes to play, SC Kiyovu skipper Fabrice Mugheni Kakule hit Nsabimana with an elbow on the neck with the two midfielders vying for the ball.

Nsabimana collapsed and fell unconscious before he was immediately rushed to University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK) for treatment.

The 25-year-old will be out of action for around ten weeks. He is expected to return to first team training August at the earliest. The 2017/2018 season ends in July.

The injury comes just two months after the soft spoken midfielder reclaimed his place an AS Kigali regular following another six-week injury layoff.

"Doctors have confirmed that I will be out for a little over two months. If all goes according to plan, I will be back late July or early August after the season is over. It’s unfortunate that this happens to me when my club needed the most,” Nsabimana told Times Sport yesterday at his home in Nyamirambo after being discharged.

The versatile midfielder has struggled with recurring injuries since the 2011 FIFA U17 World Cup in Mexico.

Nsabimana joined AS Kigali shortly before the start of the 2015/16 season from APR where he had been plying his trade since 2011.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw