The South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup return this week, and a few days before the 5th date is played, the Ecuadorian team loses one of its most important stalwarts: Enner Valencia.

The senior team captain has been removed from Félix Sánchez Basa’s squad after picking up an injury in Inter Porto Alegre’s match against Palmeiras last Saturday.

Leonardo Campana in Tricolor! The forward was called by Félix Sánchez Bas to Ecuador after the injury to Enner Valencia

The 33-year-old striker played 64 minutes in the defeat (3-0) against Verdão, where, due to discomfort in his right leg, he requested a change after he was unable to continue playing.

Félix Sánchez Bas calls Leonardo Campana out of obligation: like Pedro Ortiz, he is marginalized from the Ecuadorian team

This Monday morning, the Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF) confirmed in a statement the withdrawal of the Tricolor’s top scorer for the matches against Venezuela and Chile.

“Following the evaluation of the medical studies carried out by his club on the player Enner Valencia, it has been decided to withdraw him from the call-up for the double FIFA appointment in November,” the FEF reported via its social networks.

The Ecuadorian striker will not travel to the city of Quito, but will remain in Brazil, where he will begin the recovery process. The severity of his injury is not yet known, but it is assumed to be muscular. (D)