Afcon Update: Nigeria in huge injury blow, Bafana opponents Mali name Wolves star in squad

Maverick Leicester City midfield magician Wilfred Ndidi has been forced to withdraw from Nigeria’s squad for the Africa Cup of Nations due to injury.

The 27-year-old sustained the injury during his club’s victory over Cardiff City on December 29th, although the specific details of the injury have not been disclosed by either his club or the Nigerian Football Federation.

In addition to Ndidi, his Leicester teammate Kelechi Iheanacho is also struggling with an injury.

However, Iheanacho is currently being assessed at Nigeria’s training camp in Abu Dhabi, and his availability for the tournament is yet to be determined.

To replace Ndidi, the Nigerian Football Federation has called up Alhassan Yusuf, a 23-year-old midfielder based in Belgium.

Although Yusuf is yet to earn a senior international cap, he played a crucial role in helping Royal Antwerp win the Belgian league title last season.

He also featured in all of their Champions League group stage matches from September to December.

Nigeria will begin their Africa Cup of Nations campaign on January 14th with a Group A match against Equatorial Guinea in Abidjan. They will also face Ivory Coast and Guinea Bissau in their remaining group stage matches.

Meanwhile, Bafana Bafana’s group E opponents Mali has announced their squad which includes uncapped Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Boubacar Traore and Lorient striker Sirine Doucoure.

However, the team has been hit hard by injuries, with several key players unable to participate.

Boubacar Traore, who joined Wolves from Metz last year, has previously represented Mali at the junior level and was part of the team that won the African under-20 championship in 2019.

Doucoure, on the other hand, has mainly served as a substitute for Lorient this season but has managed to score one goal in Ligue 1.

These two players have been called up as replacements in the 27-man squad selected by coach Eric Chelle.

However, the team will have to do without Crystal Palace’s Cheick Doucoure, who underwent surgery for an Achilles tendon injury suffered during a Premier League match in November.

Additionally, Atalanta forward El-Bilal Toure is still recovering from a thigh injury he sustained shortly after joining Serie A last season.

Other players who will be sidelined include Ibrahima Kone, who plays in Spain, Massadio Haidara from Racing Lens, and former Southampton winger Moussa Djenepo, who now plays for Standard Liege in Belgium.

Mali square off against Bafana on 16 January.

Squad:
Goalkeepers: Aboubacar Doumbia (Afrique Football Elite), Djigui Diarra (Young Africans), Ismael Diawara (Malmo)

Defenders: Amadou Dante (Sturm Graz), Moussa Diarra (Toulouse), Mamadou Fofana (Amiens), Boubacar Kiki Kouyate (Montpellier), Sikou Niakate (Sporting Braga), Falaye Sacko (Montpellier), Hamari Traore (Stade Rennais)

Midfielders: Yves Bissouma (Tottenham Hotspur), Mohamed Camara (Monaco), Lassana Coulibaly (Salernitana), Aliou Dieng (Al Ahly), Kamory Doumbia (Stade Brest), Amadou Haidara (RB Leipzig), Diadie Samassekou (Hoffenheim), Adama ‘Noss’ Traore (Hull City), Boubacar Traore (Wolverhampton Wanderers)

Forwards: Fousseni Diabate (Lausanne Sport), Nene Dorgeles (Salzburg), Serine Doucoure (Lorient), Moussa Doumbia (Al Adala), Sekou Koita (Salzburg), Youssoufa Nikaite (Bani Yas), Lassine Sinayoko (AJ Auxerre), Ibrahima Sissoko (Saint Etienne).

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