Nigeria’s preparation for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations has been dealt a huge blow as influential midfielder Wilfried Ndidi has been forced to pull out of the final 25-man squad.
The Leicester City midfielder suffered an injury prior to his side’s 4-1 win over Huddersfield Town on New Year’s Day in the English Championship, and Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro has called upon Belgium-based combative midfielder Alhassan Yusuf as his replacement.
????❗️Afcon camp update: Wilfred Ndidi Out; Alhassan Yusuf In. #soarsupereagles #letsdoitagain pic.twitter.com/zFNgxOYe0T
— ???????? Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) January 3, 2024
Yusuf, who plies his trade with Royal Antwerp of the Belgian Pro League, was initially named in Peseiro’s 40-man provisional squad released in December 2023.
The Kano-born midfielder is a regular for his club, having amassed 25 appearances in all competitions this season, including scoring one and providing three goals.
The 23-year-old earns his first call-up to the Nigeria senior side, and he is expected to join his teammates in the United Arab Emirates, where they are currently in camp in the capital city of Abu Dhabi.
Ndidi’s injury news comes as a big blow to Nigeria, with the AFCON set to commence in ten days. The 26-year-old has previously represented the country at two AFCON tournaments and was expected to be one of the more senior members of the squad this time out.
Nigeria is still sweating over the fitness of Ndidi’s club teammate, Kelechi Iheanacho, who is also suffering from a muscle injury but is still expected to join the camp before the start of the AFCON, according to a post on the team’s official X platform.
The Super Eagles are drawn in Group A alongside Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau, and Equatorial Guinea, whom they will face in their opening game on January 14.
