Lorient ace Bonke insists he is not under pressure replacing important Super Eagles player Ndidi

Published: March 23, 2022

Lorient ace Innocent Bonke has insisted that he is not under any pressure whatsoever replacing one of the most consistent players in the Super Eagles, Wilfred Ndidi, ahead of Friday's 2022 World Cup playoff against the Black Stars of Ghana.

The former Malmo ace has earned a late call-up to the Nigeria squad following the withdrawal of the Leicester City midfielder from the roster due to a knee injury he suffered against Rennes in the Europa Conference League last Thursday.

Though his name was omitted from a 32-man expanded roster, caretaker manager Augustine Eguavoen was forced to look the way of Bonke after his fine start to life at Lorient with seven consecutive starts in the French Ligue 1.

Asked if he's under pressure replacing Ndidi, Bonke told reporters, including allnigeriasoccer.com, at the end of training on Tuesday evening : "It was a late invitation but I have to honour it.

"The fact I am going to replace one of the most important players in the team, I don't have any pressure about that. I am here to do my job.

"The game is very, very important for Nigerians and for we as players, we are going to give our best so we come out victorious at the end of the day."

Bonke says he will not be overwhelmed by the occasion if he is named in the starting lineup to face Ghana in Kumasi.

When asked if he would be surprised starting the first leg on Friday, Bonke answered : "I won't be surprised, I am training, focused and ready to take the chance."

The 26-year-old Bonke made his full Super Eagles debut in a road win vs Cape Verde in September 2021, before helping the national team defeat Central African Republic in another away game the following month.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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