Wilfred Ndidi
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) says Wilfred Ndidi is not suspended for the final of the African playoffs for the 2026 World Cup.
The federation was reacting to reports that Ndidi will miss the game against DR Congo due to yellow card accumulation.
Ndidi was one of Nigeria’s standout performers in their 4-1 victory over Gabon in the semi-final of the playoffs on Thursday.
He captained the team and summed up his energetic performance with an assist to Chidera Ejuke for the Eagles’ second goal of the game.
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However, Ndidi received a yellow card in the first half of the match after protesting a referee’s decision. The midfielder had also picked up a yellow card in one of the matches during the group stages of the World Cup qualifiers.
In a tweet on Saturday, NFF clarified that the yellow cards received during the group phase of the qualifiers “do not carry over into the playoffs”.
“CAF has confirmed that Wilfred Ndidi is eligible to feature for the Super Eagles in Sunday’s playoff clash against DR Congo,” the tweet reads.
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“Cautions accumulated during the World Cup qualifiers do not carry over into the playoffs; only confirmed suspensions apply.”
The Super Eagles will face DR Congo on Sunday at 8 pm Nigerian time.
The winners of the match will qualify as Africa’s representatives for the intercontinental playoff for the World Cup next year.
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