Former Super Eagles Coach Decries Absence of Top Midfielder as Reason for Nigeria’s World Cup Miss

• Wilfred Ndidi was not part of the Super Eagles squad that prosecuted the World Cup play-off against Ghana
• The Nigerian international suffered injury while on Europa League duty for his English club Leicester City
• Nigeria failed to qualify for the World Cup and Eguavoen has stated that the absence of Ndidi was a major factor

Former Super Eagles handler Augustine Eguavoen has disclosed that the absence of Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi played a part in Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the World Cup.

Ndidi suffered an injury during Leicester City’s Europa League clash with French Ligue 1 side Rennes a week before the World Cup play-offs.

The 25-year-old was eventually withdrawn from the Super Eagles squad that prosecuted the double-header against Ghana.

Nigeria have just managed two wins in their previous 12 matches against their eternal rivals Ghana and Eguavoen said Ndidi’s absence affected his team.

Innocent Bonke was later called up as a replacement, but the FC Lorient midfielder also suffered an injury during the first leg against Ghana in Kumasi.

The Journey of Burundi's national football team amidst years of chaos and turmoil

Football

As a result the Eagles were short of options in the middle ahead of the second leg.

Speaking on SuperSport's Monday Night Football, Eguavoen said via Pulse Sports:

“Imagine a Ghana without a Partey. Losing Ndidi was, first of all, a problem and then we make amends by bringing in Bonke who is a ball winner and then he got injured as well

"Onyeka was also on top of his game, also got injured so he had a bit of a problem.

"Etebo, who's just coming back from injury, played well in Kumasi when he came in but he only had to give us his best for the first sixty minutes.

"If you look at the bench now who would have come in? It's just to change formation within the players. At 1-1 we needed to get that one goal but it just didn't happen."

Eguavoen explains why Chidera Ejuke was not invited

Is Central Africa Republic's national football team the most underrated national team in Africa?

Football

Meanwhile, Sports Brief earlier reported that Nigeria coach Augustine Eguavoen disclosed that he wanted to achieve a balanced team and that was why Chidera Ejuke was not invited for the World Cup play-offs against Ghana.

Eguavoen named an initial 32-man list for Nigeria, but Chidera Ejuke who has been tipped to step into Jay Jay Okocha’s shoes for his dribbling skills was missing on the list.

Eguavoen disclosed that the door was not shut at the CSKA Moscow star, saying an opportunity was given to Ademola Lookman while Emmanuel Dennis returned to the squad.