2026 WCQ: Nigeria handed Ndidi blow

by Staff Reporter

Friday Nov 03, 2023. 15:00

Nigeria have been handed a bow ahead of their upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.

The Super Eagles will be without one of their key midfielders, Wilfred Ndidi will miss both matches due to a ‘muscular problem.’

This has been confirmed by the 26-year-old’s manager at his English Championship club, Leicester City, Enzo Maresca.

“Wilf will be out until the international break. It is also a muscular problem,” Maresca told the club’s official website.

“It’s a small thing but when the problem is muscular, even if it’s small, it’s always one week or two weeks because we don’t want to take any risks.”

The Super Eagles will host Lesotho on 16 November before taking on Zimbabwe away on November 19.

Ndidi has featured in 15 matches across all competitions for Leicester this season – scoring three times and providing four assists.

He has 54 caps for Nigeria having made his debut against DR Congo in October 2015.