Leicester City’s midfield maestro Wilfred Ndidi and striker Kelechi Iheanacho find themselves battling injuries just days before the tournament’s kickoff. The duo, instrumental in Nigeria’s football, face uncertainty in their participation in AFCON 2024, posing a potential setback for the Super Eagles.
Despite being absent from Leicester’s recent 4-1 victory against Huddersfield Town, manager Enzo Maresca confirmed the release of Ndidi and Iheanacho to join the national team. However, a shadow of doubt looms over their availability as their injuries persist, leaving their fate in the hands of the Nigerian management.
Manager Maresca acknowledged the situation, stating, “Kelechi [Iheanacho] and Wilfred [Ndidi] are both currently injured, but they are going to go with the international team. We will see if Nigeria wants to include them or send them back, as I said, they both have an injury at the moment.”
With Nigeria’s AFCON campaign set to kick off against Equatorial Guinea on January 15, 2024, and subsequent challenging fixtures against hosts Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea-Bissau, the uncertainty surrounding the availability of Ndidi and Iheanacho has intensified the concern within the Super Eagles camp.
The Nigerian team, currently in Abu Dhabi, UAE, has commenced its preparation for the group-stage battles. The absence of key players such as Ndidi and Iheanacho could potentially impact Nigeria’s strategic gameplay and overall performance in the tournament. As fans anxiously await updates on the duo’s fitness status, the nation holds its collective breath, hoping for positive developments that will bolster the Super Eagles’ chances in AFCON 2024.
- Tags: AFCON, iheanacho, Ndidi, Super Eagles
