Fresh injury blow threatens Super Eagles ahead of AFCON kickoff

The Super Eagles‘ hopes for a successful 2023 AFCON campaign have been dealt a heavy blow with the news that Wilfred Ndidi has joined Kelechi Iheanacho on the injury list.

Both players are currently nursing knocks that could potentially rule them out of the tournament.

Ndidi, Leicester City’s midfield maestro, missed the Foxes’ 4-1 victory over Huddersfield on New Year’s Day due to an undisclosed injury sustained after their win at Cardiff last week. 

Manager Enzo Maresca confirmed the injury and raised doubts about his availability for AFCON.

“He’s still due to join up with Nigeria this week,” Maresca was quoted as saying by the Leicester Mercury, “but there’s no guarantee he’ll be fit enough to play.” 

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The double blow comes as a major setback for the Super Eagles, who are aiming for their fourth AFCON title in Ivory Coast. 

The spate of injuries casts a shadow over their already challenging task.

Adding to the frustration is the decision by coach Jose Peseiro to select a 25-man squad for the tournament when he could have opted for a maximum of 27 players. 

This decision, criticised by some as counterproductive, leaves the team with less room for manoeuvre in the face of injuries.

Whether Nigeria will be allowed to replace Ndidi and Iheanacho is unclear. 

The team will likely be hoping for a speedy recovery from both players, especially if they dream of reaching the final.