Injury scare for Neymar after Brazilian limps out of friendly draw with Nigeria

Paris Saint-Germain forward lasts just 12 minutes before he is forced off with a hamstring injury, while Inter Milan attacker Sanchez might have played his last game this year

CORRECTION / Brazil's forward Neymar (C) leaves the field during an international friendly football match between Brazil and Nigeria at the National Stadium in Singapore on October 13, 2019. / AFP / Roslan RAHMAN
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Brazil forward Neymar lasted just 12 minutes of his team's 1-1 draw with Nigeria in a friendly in Singapore on Sunday.

The Paris Saint-Germain attacker, making his 101st appearance for the national team, was clutching the back of his left hamstring as he left the pitch and was replaced by Philippe Coutinho.

After the match, Brazil manager Tite said Neymar "felt a muscle injury" and was substituted as a "precaution".

The Africans took the lead after 35 minutes when Joe Aribo found space in a packed penalty box to rifle in a low shot and grab his second goal in two international appearances.

Brazil equalised three minutes into the second half when Casemiro fired home from close range after he was quickest to react when a Marquinhos header came back off the woodwork.

Casemiro later smacked a header off the bar and Coutinho should have scored a cut back with five minutes remaining but the score remained at 1-1.

The draw extended Brazil's winless run to four games. Since lifting the Copa America in July, Brazil have also drawn with Colombia and Senegal and lost to Peru.

The Neymar injury appears to be the latest in a series of injury problems for the 27-year-old, who has only featured for his club five times this season and missed Brazil's Copa America victory in the summer.

Neymar was left out by PSG manager Thomas Tuchel as he resolved his future during the opening weeks of the Ligue 1 campaign after a move back to Barcelona never materialised.

Meanwhile, Chile forward Alexis Sanchez injured tendons in his left ankle during their goalless friendly draw with Colombia and is returning to his club Inter Milan for further tests.

Sanchez was fouled moments before the end of Saturday's stalemate in Alicante, Spain, and had to come off. He will miss Chile's friendly against Guinea on Tuesday, which will take place in the same city, and reports suggest he might have played his last game this year.

The draw was Chile's fifth game without a win under manager Reinaldo Rueda.

Soccer Football - International Friendly - Chile v Colombia - Estadio Jose Rico Perez, Alicante, Spain - October 12, 2019  Chile's Alexis Sanchez reacts on the ground  REUTERS/Javier Barbancho
Chile's Alexis Sanchez after injuring his ankle on Saturday. Reuters