AFCON 2023: Injured Leicester City star backs Super Eagles to go all the way to the final

Enzo Maresca is leading a promotion charge with Leicester City as the Foxes are currently seven points clear at the top of the EFL Championship table.

Super Eagles and Leicester City midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi, has backed the Nigerian football team to go all the way to the final AFCON 2023 tournament in Ivory Coast, Soccernet.ng reports.

Ndidi, 27, has been an integral part of Leicester’s promotion charge this season, scoring two goals and providing five assists in seventeen games for the Foxes.

Originally included in Jose Peseiro’s 40-man provisional AFCON squad list, Ndidi picked up a muscle injury in Leicester’s game against Cardiff City, just before the new year and it was confirmed that he’ll miss the AFCON tournament in Ivory Coast.

In his absence, the Super Eagles have qualified for the round of sixteen of the tournament in Ivory Coast, and the versatile midfielder has urged the team to go all the way.

He was on punditry duties with Neil Warnock and Troy Deeney during Leicester City’s 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town, the midfielder shared how happy he was for Jose Peseiro’s men.

“It was really bad for me not to be there but I’m so happy for the team because even from last year, this is what we have been planning to go for the AFCON. Just try as much as possible to get to the final,” the one-time FA Cup winner said on Sky Sports.

Ndidi has 42 appearances for Nigeria since making his debut in 2015 and has urged the Super Eagles to take each game as it comes.

“We planned to win games which gets you to the next stage. I’m not saying we’re going to win it because in football you never know, but that is the plan. Just go with each stage and then those wins get you to the final,” the Leicester midfielder added.

The former Genk revealed he won’t be out of football action for much longer, as he’s on his journey to full recovery.

“I’ve had my surgery and I feel good, and I should be back in about two weeks. We’ll see,” he said.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have been drawn against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in the round of sixteen of the AFCON tournament.