AFCON: In the absence of Ndidi who will inspire Super Eagles midfield?

One of the most inspirational players of the Super Eagles, Wilfred Ndidi, will no longer be part of the team to Ivory Coast.

In the absence of Wilfred Ndidi who will propel the Nigerian midfield?

This is the question on the lips of every Nigerian football lover after the announcement of Ndidi’s exit from the Super Eagles team due to injury.

Ndidi missed his team’s runaway Championship leaders Leicester City’s 4-1 win over Huddersfield Town on Monday due to an unspecified injury.

However, the team’s spokesman, Babafemi Raji, told journalists on Wednesday that Ndidi has been replaced by 23-year-old Alhassan Yusuf, who has been in good form with the Belgian champions, Royal Antwerp.

Jose Peseiro’s team was poor in transition in the last two games, and defensively porous, and this is largely due to the absence of a solid defensive midefilder.

Often considered cynical, aggressive, rash and undervalued, the defensive midfielder holds the key to the fortunes and success of a team.

Defensive midfielders act as a shield to the defence and goalkeeper, harrying defenders and committing fouls.

They provide a link between the defence and midfield and most attacks tend to stem from their feet.

Can Yusuf who scored a stunner against FC Porto in the UEFA Champions League on his first ever start in November bring his wealth of experience to the fore for the team?

He is regarded as the Ngolo Kante of the Belgium League, his ball winning ability, tackling skills, his determination in closing in on opposition strikers before getting into the final defensive third area and his speed in setting up attack is a huge advantage to the team.

The three-time African champions are training in the United Arab Emirates ahead of the tournament.

They have been drawn in Group A alongside Ivory Coast, Guinea Bissau and Equatorial Guinea and they will face Equatorial Guinea in their opening match on January 14.