By Michael Odegbe
Nigeria’s preparations for their crucial Africa Cup of Nations semifinal against hosts Morocco have suffered a major setback as captain Wilfred Ndidi has been suspended.
The midfielder will miss Wednesday’s quarterfinal match after receiving his second yellow card of the tournament during Nigeria’s 2-0 quarterfinal victory over Algeria. The yellow card automatically resulted in a one-match suspension, forcing coach Eric Chelle to reconsider his plans ahead of one of the tournament’s most crucial matches.
Ndidi had already been on the edge of discipline after receiving a yellow card in the group stage victory over Mozambique. The Leicester City star, who was on the watchlist for the Algeria match alongside Calvin Bassey and Frank Onyeka, was the only one of the three to receive a second yellow card against the Desert Foxes.
His absence is a significant blow to the Super Eagles. Beyond wearing the armband, Ndidi was a driving force for Nigeria – breaking up opposing attacks, dictating the tempo, and providing leadership in moments of pressure.
This doesn’t spell all bad news for Nigeria, however. Ndidi’s suspension only covers the semifinals, meaning he will be available for both the Africa Cup of Nations final and the third-place match, depending on the result of the match against Morocco.
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