Nigeria’s Fourth Title Quest Suffers Ndidi, Iheanacho Injury Blow

Nigeria’s quest for a fourth Africa Cup of Nations win in Côte d’Ivoire suffered a set back after it was revealed that Super Eagles midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi has joined Leicester City and Nigeria teammate Kelechi Iheanacho in suffering an injury that could rule him out of the biennial competition. 

Ndidi was expected to be included in the squad for Leicester City’s 4-1 victory over Huddersfield on New Year’s Day. 

However, Manager Enzo Maresca admitted Ndidi suffered an injury in the wake of last Friday’s win at Cardiff and so missed out.

It means that he is now a doubt for the tournament. He is still due to link up with Nigeria this week ahead of the January 13 kick-off in Côte d’Ivoire, Maresca said there is no guarantee he will be fit enough to play. That’s the same for Iheanacho, who has now missed City’s last two games. 

The fitness of key players like Ndidi and Iheanacho has become a major concern to Super Eagles handler’s even as the team’s training camp ahead the AFCON  in Abu Dhabi.

Patson Daka was also missing from the line-up that beat Huddersfield, but he had already left the City camp to join the Zambia ranks ahead of AFCON. 

“Kele and Wilf are both injured, but they are now going to be with the international team,” Maresca said after Leicester City extended their unbeaten run to 10 matches, and their lead at the top of the table to 10 points. “We’ll see if they’re going to keep them or send them back. But they are both injured unfortunately for us.

“Pat  (Dhaka) is already with his international team. Harry Souttar is already with his international team. Then the rest are injured.”

The other three absentees were Jamie Vardy, Dennis Praet and Kasey McAteer.