Super Eagles coach, Augustine Eguavoen, has replaced injured Wilfred Ndidi with France-based midfielder, Innocent Bonke, in his squad for the 2022 World Cup playoff against Ghana.
Ndidi will not be part of both legs against the Black Stars after suffering a knee injury in Leicester City’s 2-1 loss to Rennes in a Europa Conference League round of 16 clash on Thursday.
Leicester City boss, Brendan Rodgers confirmed Ndidi’s situation, adding that the Nigeria international may spend three weeks on the sideline.
This rules the defensive midfielder out of the two-legged matches with Ghana but Bonke has now stepped in to feel the void.
“Camp update: Innocent Bonke has been called up as a replacement for injured @Ndidi25 for the #WCQ games against #Ghana. Get well quick Wilf,” a tweet on Super Eagles official Twitter handle reads, Sunday evening.
Ndidi was injured during Leicester City’s Europa Conference League tie with Rennes last week and would be out of action for some time.
Camp update: Innocent Bonke has been called up as replacement for injured @Ndidi25 for the #WCQ games against #Ghana. Get well quick Wilf. #soarsupereagles #ghanga#ngagha pic.twitter.com/cO1Xxc23BU
— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) March 20, 2022
His replacement made his debut for the Nigerian side in September. That was in a World Cup qualifier against Cape Verde which Nigeria won. Since joining Lorient in the January transfer from Swedish side, Malmo, Bonke has played in seven league games.
The first leg of the encounter will take place in Ghana on March 25 while the return fixture hold four days later in Abuja. The winner of the play-off will join four other teams to fly Africa’s flag at the 2022 World billed for Qatar later in November.
