- Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi faces a minimum three-month injury setback, affecting the team’s midfield dynamics and potential impact on their season
- Nigerian midfielder Alhassan Yusuf replaces Ndidi in the Africa Cup of Nations squad, adding to Leicester’s challenges in the coming months
Leicester City and Nigerian midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi, are set to endure a significant setback as the player is sidelined for a minimum of three months due to a muscle injury, confirmed by Leicester City coach Enzo Maresca.
The 27-year-old missed Leicester City’s recent Championship victory over Huddersfield on New Year’s Day and has been forced to withdraw from Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations squad. Alhassan Yusuf has been named as his replacement.
With 15 of the Foxes’ remaining 20 league games in jeopardy for Ndidi, Maresca expressed concern over the extensive recovery period. Ndidi, who has been a consistent performer this season with 24 appearances, four goals, and six assists, faces a challenging rehabilitation.
Maresca, addressing the media during a pre-match conference, stated, “The situation for Wilf is the clearest one. Probably for Wilf, it will be a long time. It could be three months. It looks like a muscle problem, but an important one.”
The absence of Ndidi poses a notable blow to Leicester City’s campaign, especially considering the midfielder’s influential role in the team. Currently topping the table, Leicester will have to navigate a significant portion of the season without one of their key players.
In addition to Ndidi’s injury, Maresca also provided an update on Kelechi Iheanacho, stating that the forward is still not fit to play. This raises uncertainties about Iheanacho’s participation in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.
President of the Nigerian Football Federation, Ibrahim Gusau, remains optimistic about Iheanacho’s recovery, stating, “I have spoken to Iheanacho; he’s recovering fast and has even started running. He will most likely join us in Lagos, where the team will be hosted to a dinner on January 9.”
As Ndidi faces a lengthy recovery, Leicester City must recalibrate their midfield strategy, and Nigerian fans eagerly await Iheanacho’s potential return for the AFCON tournament.