Wilfred Ndidi Sidelined for Nigeria's Pivotal World Cup Qualifying Matches

Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi will not be available for international duty until after the international break, delivering a significant blow to the Nigerian Super Eagles ahead of their critical FIFA World Cup qualifying games.

As Leicester City strives for promotion back to the Premier League, Ndidi's outstanding performances have made him indispensable both to his club and to the Super Eagles, where he is considered crucial to Nigeria's aspirations of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The road to the World Cup begins this month for the Super Eagles, with the team scheduled to face Lesotho on home turf on November 15th, followed by a match against Zimbabwe on November 18th.

Nevertheless, the Super Eagles will have to commence their qualifying campaign without their formidable defensive midfielder, who is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Celebrating an award from Leicester City and an accolade earned on Nigeria's Independence Day, Ndidi's presence on the field will be missed. - Instagram/Wilfred Ndidi

Ndidi has not made an appearance for Leicester City since October 21. Ahead of an important game against Leeds United, his coach has provided insights regarding his recovery timeline.

Leicester's manager Maresca, who has revitalized Ndidi's gameplay at King Power Stadium, has confirmed the player's absence for the upcoming game, emphasizing that Ndidi will not return before the international fixtures are concluded.

"Wilf (Ndidi) will be out until the international break," Leicester's head coach reported in a press conference on Friday, according to a release on the club's official website.

"We are dealing with a muscular problem. It might be a minor issue, but with muscle injuries, you're typically looking at a minimum of one or two weeks out because we don't want to risk a more severe injury," he elaborated.

Jose Peseiro faces the challenge of filling Ndidi's shoes.
The FIFA World Cup qualifiers present a formidable challenge, and the Super Eagles' quest for a spot in the 2026 tournament in the USA will undoubtedly test their mettle.

In the wake of Ndidi's injury, who also served as the captain in the previous international break, Nigeria's coach Jose Peseiro, must now seek a solid replacement to ensure the team remains competitive and shows the necessary grit in Ndidi's absence.