Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Gary O'Neil confirmed on Friday that defensive midfielder Mario Lemina has been stripped of the club's captaincy and replaced by Portuguese right back Nelson Semedo. The decision follows a confrontation between Lemina and West Ham's Jarrod Bowen after Wolves' 2-1 loss to the Hammers on Monday, a match in which Bowen scored the decisive goal. Lemina, 31, has since apologized for his actions.
Lemina has been a key figure for Wolves since joining from French club Nice last year, making 75 appearances for the team. Despite his removal as captain, O'Neil emphasized that Lemina will continue to be a valued member of the senior squad. "We've decided to move the captaincy to Nelson, and Nelson will captain the group from now on," O'Neil said in a statement.
O'Neil further explained that the altercation after the West Ham defeat led to important discussions with Lemina and other senior players. "We've spoken a lot this week – me, Mario, and some of the other senior players. What happened after the game can't happen," O'Neil said. The manager acknowledged the emotional intensity that comes with pressure but made it clear such incidents should not occur again.
Despite their difficult position in the league, with Wolves sitting 19th in the Premier League table, O'Neil is focused on moving forward. With only two wins from 15 matches, Wolves will next face Ipswich Town, who are just one point ahead in 18th place, in what will be a crucial match for both teams on Saturday.
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