Soccer
Coach Eric Chelle and Wilfred Ndidi during the AFCON game between Super Eagles and Tunisia. (Photo by ImagoxGani Yusuf)
Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle has expressed confidence that his team can cope in the absence of captain Wilfred Ndidi, Soccernet.ng reports.
Ndidi has been a key player for Nigeria at the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. The Besiktas star has combined his captaincy duties with some impressive performances on the pitch.
He has started four games so far at the tournament, and he had imposed himself on the midfield and dominated play in all four.
However, Nigeria will be without him for the crucial semifinal fixture against hosts Morocco on Wednesday.
This is because Ndidi was yellow-carded in the Super Eagles’ 2-0 win over Algeria in the quarterfinals on Saturday.
The 29-year-old was booked for disobeying the referee’s directive regarding where to exit the pitch.
That was his second booking of the knockout rounds; according to CAF rules, any player who accumulates two bookings during the knockout phase must serve a one-game suspension.
Unfortunately, this suspension falls during the match against Morocco, who have been one of the standout teams at this AFCON.
Nonetheless, coach Chelle believes that Ndidi’s absence will open up opportunities for other players who have not seen much action in Morocco so far.
“I am disappointed for him because he brings so much for the team. But we are a group, and every player is waiting for a chance to show something for us. I’m very confident. I have to choose his replacement, and everything will be fine,” Chelle said, as observed by Soccernet.ng.
Soccer Super Eagles: Who Will Replace Ndidi against Morocco?
Wilfred Ndidi is unavailable for the clash against Morocco, but his replacement should not give Eric Chelle too much of a headache.
The natural successor is Raphael Onyedika. The Club Brugge star has replaced Ndidi a few times already in this tournament, so Chelle will likely hand him a starting shirt for the semifinal.
Onyedika has proven that he can carry the weight of the team on his shoulders. In fact, some fans believe he should be starting ahead of Ndidi regardless of suspensions.
Moreover, he has a tendency to chip in with a goal or two, as evidenced by his two strikes in the tournament so far.
The game against Morocco will be a vital opportunity for the Club Brugge man to prove his quality to Chelle. Indeed, it might even serve as the turning point for his international career.
Kelvin Omachonu
Kelvin Omachonu is a professional football columnist and sports writer with over half a decade of experience covering major events and delivering captivating, analytically-driven stories.
A graduate of the University of Ibadan, he is fueled by a profound dedication to sports journalism and the beautiful game. His insights have previously been featured in respected outlets, including IndyPress UI, UCJ UI Newshive NG, Sportpremi, and a few others.
Away from work, Kelvin is an avid fan of basketball, enjoys a great movie, and is always discovering new music.
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