President of the Nigeria Football Federation NFF, Ibrahim Gusau
By VICTOR OKOYE
Ibrahim Gusau, the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has allayed fears surrounding Wilfred Ndidis departure from the Super Eagles camp ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ndidi, a key player in Peseiros squad was replaced by Royal Antwerp player, Alhassan Yusuf after sustaining an injury ahead of the Super Eagles AFCON 2023 campaign.
Gusau said in an interview on the NFFs website on Saturday, that there was no cause for alarm.
He said that the team had the ability to perform well even without the Leicester City midfielder.
I dont have any tension because I know we played a lot of matches without Ndidi and won a lot of matches without him.
We also played a lot of matches with Ndidi and lost unexpectedly, so its not about Ndidi, its about the national team of Nigeria, he said.
NAN also reports that Ndidis replacement, Yusuf, currently making an impact for Antwerp, notably scored a vital goal in their UEFA Champions League match against Portuguese opposition.
He also provided an assist in his teams victory against FC Barcelona.
Gusau, expressed confidence in Yusufs contributions to the AFCON campaign, citing his impressive performance against FC Barcelona as a positive indicator.
The young boy that was brought in now, Yusuf is also doing wonderfully well with his team.
When they played against Barcelona, you can see the performance he put on in the win against Barcelona in the Champions League, the NFF president said.
Drawing parallels to Sunday Mbas pivotal performance in AFCON 2013, Gusau hoped that the young Nigerian talent, Yusuf would replicate a similar impact.
Hes also a young boy, maybe its an opportunity for him to do a miracle.
Dont forget everybody did not have confidence in Mba when we went to the AFCON in 2013 and at the end of the day Mba was part of the players that performed a miracle he said.
Nobody knows what Yusuf is going to be in the team so its not about Ndidi, its about the Super Eagles.
NAN also reports that the Super Eagles are scheduled to face Guinea in an upcoming preparatory match before heading to Cote dIvoire for their AFCON campaign.
The 2023 AFCON which kicks off on Jan. 13 will end on Feb. 11. (NAN)
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