Lisbon, September 21 (BNA): The Portuguese Football Federation announced on Wednesday that veteran defender Pepe will not play for Portugal in the Nations League due to his injury.
The federation said the decision was made after doctors evaluated Bibi after he arrived at the team’s training camp this week. She did not say what his injury was.
The 39-year-old last played for Porto in the team’s 4-0 home loss to Club Brugge in the Champions League group stage on September 13.
The federation did not say whether coach Fernando Santos would call up a replacement for Pepe, according to the Associated Press.
Joao Felix and Bernardo Silva trained separately as Portugal began their preparations, but were expected to rejoin the rest of the group soon.
Portugal, winners of the inaugural Nations League in 2019, trail Spain by one point in their last two Group B matches – in the Czech Republic on Saturday and against Spain at home three days later. Only the winners of the group will advance to the fourth final.
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