Blow for Nigeria: Ndidi forced to withdraw from AFCON squad as Peseiro calls up replacement

Nigeria have suffered a major injury blow ahead of their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations opener against Equatorial Guinea with key midfielder Wilfred Ndidi ruled out of the tournament in Ivory Coast. 

Allnigeriasoccer.com has gotten official confirmation from the Nigeria Football Federation that the Leicester City ace has pulled out of the Nigeria squad due to an injury he suffered while on club duties at Leicester City. 

One of the assistant captains of the Super Eagles, the holding midfielder was guaranteed a spot in Nigeria's ideal starting lineup. 

The former Racing Genk youngster has been involved in every single game played by the national team at the Africa Cup of Nations since the 2019 edition, starting ten and coming off the bench in a dead rubber against Madagascar, which makes his absence more painful. 

Nigeria manager Jose Peseiro has called up Royal Antwerp midfielder Alhassan Yusuf, who was named in the provisional AFCON squad, to join the main squad. 

This is the second time the Portuguese football tactician has invited Yusuf to the national team as he handed a call-up to the 23-year-old for the international friendlies against  Mexico and Ecuador in 2022 but the player could not attend the camp in the United States. 

Yusuf has been extensively scouted by a trusted associate of Nigeria Football Federation's Technical Director Augustine Eguavoen and has also been monitored by Peseiro. 

A product of FC Hearts Abuja, Yusuf put himself in the shop window in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League, where he scored against Porto and registered an assist in Antwerp's thrilling win against Barcelona. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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