Nigeria Super Eagles have been dealt a major blow with highly-rated midfielder Wilfred Ndidi ruled out of 2023 AFCON, MySportDab reports.
Ndidi made Jose Peseiro’s 25-man squad called up for 2023 AFCON following his outstanding performance with Leicester City.
The midfield sensation was expected to play a key role in Super Eagles’ midfield as the three-time African champions set their sight on ending a decade wait for their fourth AFCON trophy.
In what is a sad news to the team, it has been confirmed the 26-year-old will not make it for the tournament after his injury blow.
We reported earlier Wilfred Ndidi had missed what would have been his last game for Leicester City before joining the Super Eagles camp for AFCON.
BBC journalist Owynn Palmer-Atkin revealed Ndidi was missed the game due to injury with his AFCON chances also at risk.
An update on the Super Eagles camp shared on the team’s official X handle has confirmed Ndidi has been ruled out of the tournament.
The report adds Jose Peseiro has called Alhassan Yusuf of Royal Antwerp in Belgium to replace the Leicester City star.
🔈❗️Afcon camp update: Wilfred Ndidi Out; Alhassan Yusuf In. #soarsupereagles #letsdoitagain pic.twitter.com/zFNgxOYe0T
— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) January 3, 2024
In additional camp update, another Leicester City star Kelechi Iheanacho, who picked up a muscle injury, is yet to report to camp but is not ruled out of the tournament.
Nigeria will kick off their 2023 AFCON campaign on January 14, 2024 against Equatorial Guinea before taking on Cote D’Ivoire, and Guinea-Bissau in the last group game.
