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Coach Eric Chelle and Wilfred Ndidi during the AFCON game between Super Eagles and Tunisia. (Photo by ImagoxGani Yusuf)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle<\/a> has expressed confidence that his team can cope in the absence of captain Wilfred Ndidi<\/a>, Soccernet.ng reports.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u200bNdidi has been a key player for Nigeria at the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco<\/a>. The Besiktas star has combined his captaincy duties with some impressive performances on the pitch.<\/p>\n He has started four games so far at the tournament, and he had imposed himself on the midfield and dominated play in all four.<\/p>\n \u200bHowever, Nigeria will be without him for the crucial semifinal fixture against hosts Morocco on Wednesday.<\/p>\n This is because Ndidi was yellow-carded in the Super Eagles’ 2-0 win over Algeria in the quarterfinals on Saturday<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u200bThe 29-year-old was booked for disobeying the referee’s directive regarding where to exit the pitch.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u200bUnfortunately, this suspension falls during the match against Morocco, who have been one of the standout teams at this AFCON.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cI 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,\u201d Chelle said, as observed by Soccernet.ng<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u200bWilfred Ndidi is unavailable for the clash against Morocco, but his replacement should not give Eric Chelle too much of a headache.<\/p>\n \u200bThe 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.<\/p>\n \u200bOnyedika 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.<\/p>\n Moreover, he has a tendency to chip in with a goal or two, as evidenced by his two strikes in the tournament so far.<\/p>\n \u200bThe 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.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"Soccer](\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2026\/01\/imago1070958568-1-scaled.jpg\")
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Soccer \u200bSuper Eagles: Who Will Replace Ndidi against Morocco?<\/h2>\n
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Kelvin Omachonu” src=”https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG-20240522-WA0001-150×150.jpg” height=”80″ width=”80″>\t\t<\/p>\n