A Nigeria football coach, Kennedy Boboye, has backed ex-Golden Eaglets captain, Samson Tijani, to fill Wilfred Ndidi’s void in Gernot Rohr’s team for the international friendly matches scheduled for October.
Goal confirmed Ndidi has withdrawn from next month’s games against Ivory Coast and Tunisia in Austria, after suffering a groin injury in Leicester City’s 4-2 victory against Burnley on Sunday.
Ndidi ruled out of Super Eagles friendlies with groin injury
Musa, Ekong, Ndidi 22 others for friendlies against Cote d’Ivoire, Tunisia
Since he made his international debut in 2015, the 23-year-old has established himself as a pivot in the Super Eagles midfield and his absence has raised eyebrows.
Aware of the crucial role Ndidi plays, Boboye – who is currently the head coach of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) outfit Awka United – suggested new invitee Tijani as a potential candidate to play in his absence amid experience concerns.
“Ndidi should be the only player actually playing that position in the national team. If he is injured, I think we should have a better replacement. The coaches working with them know,” Boboye told Goal.
“That position is where Oghenekaro Etebo has played in more than three games for Nigeria so he can fill the void as usual.
“We have Samson Tijani, the Golden Eaglets captain who is playing regularly for his club in Europe and he is a better replacement if Ndidi is not there, though he might lack the experience.
“The advantage is that he’s playing at his club and they can give him a guideline.”
Tijani captained Nigeria to the U17 FIFA World Cup in Russia last year, and he is currently on a season-long loan at Austrian top-flight club Hartberg from RB Salzburg.
The 18-year-old midfielder has played four matches across all competitions this season, which include two Austrian Bundesliga games.
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