WILFRED Ndidi has been officially withdrawn from the Super Eagles squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and replaced with Alhassan Yusuf, it has been confirmed.
The Super Eagles media team announced today that Ndidi would not be able to feature in the tournament in Cote d’Ivoire due to an injury while his Leicester City teammate Kelechi Iheanacho is hopeful of shaking off his own knock in time for the continental showpiece.
Ndidi, the main man in the Super Eagles midfield, will be replaced by Yusuf, who plays in Belgium with Royal Antwerp.
Yusuf, 23, has made 15 appearances for Royal Antwerp in the Belgian Pro League this season, eight of them off the bench, and his last start was on December 2 in the 1-0 victory over Leuven.
Since that last start, Yusuf has played just 53 minutes in the four Pro League matches that followed, being an unused substitute in one of them.
Yusuf has however been more active in the UEFA Champions League, playing a part in all of Royal Antwerp’s six group phase games this season, starting four of them, including the stunning 3-2 win over Barcelona on December 13, which earned the Belgian side their only points.
Although Yusuf has been invited to the national team before, the defensive midfielder is yet to make his official Super Eagles debut.
Meanwhile, 17 players have arrived in the Super Eagles camp in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates in preparation for the 2023 AFCON, which is scheduled for January 13 to February 11.
The players in camp include Ahmed Musa, Kenneth Omeruo, Ojo Olorunleke, Moses Simon and Alex Iwobi.
Ademola Lookman, Ola Aina, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Joe Aribo and Frank Onyeka are also in camp, along with Victor Boniface, Zaidu Sanusi, Raphael Onyedika and Chidozie Awaziem.
The team will begin training tonight and camp in Abu Dhabi until next Tuesday when they will return to Nigeria before proceeding to Cote d’Ivoire for the tournament.
SUPER EAGLES PLAYERS IN AFCON CAMP
1. Ahmed Musa
2. Kenneth Omeruo
3. Moses Simon
4. Ojo Olorunleke
5. Alex Iwobi
6. Semi Ajayi
7. Ola Aina
8. Calvin Bassey
9. Ademola Lookman
10. Joe Aribo
11. Frank Onyeka
12. Bruno Onyemachi
13. Chinedu Awaziem
14. Zaidu Sanusi
15. Victor Boniface
16. Raphael Onyedika
17. Bright Osayi-Samuel
