The 25-year-old AC Leopards captain was hurt in the 17th minute of his side's Confederation Cup Group B match against Egypt's Zamalek last Saturday.

He was taken to the Air Force Specialised Hospital, Cairo "in a very bad condition".

Yesterday, Dr Salah Abdelkhaleq said the player was doing better but it was too early to say if he would play again.

"He had serious damage to his spinal column between the fifth and sixth vertebrae, a blow to the spinal cord, breathing difficulties and brain bleeding, but the surgery was successful," the doctor said.

"The latest is that respiration is now stable after the unstable period on Monday. His chest muscles were also affected because of bruises in the cervical spinal cord.