Nigeria Super Eagles Hit With 3rd Injury BLOW Ahead of 2023 AFCON

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have been struck with a third injury blow as they prepare for 2023 AFCON, LCSoccerHub Reports.

The three-time African champions were tipped as top favorites to win the competition but are now facing an injury crisis that is likely to take toll on their performance in the tournament.

Since Jose Peseiro named his 25-man squad for the continental showpiece, three players have now been confirmed sidelined with two ruled out of the tournament.

Leicester City star Kelechi Iheanacho was the first player to be sidelined ahead of the tournament following a muscular injury

As of the time filing this report, Kelechi Iheanacho is yet to report for the Super Eagles camp ahead of the tournament but there are hopes he may recover to join up with the squad.

The former Manchester City forward missed the Super Eagles 0-2 friendly defeat to Guinea ahead of the tournament.

Meanwhile, we reported earlier another Leicester City star and top DM Wilfred Ndidi has been ruled out of the competition due to injury.

The Super Eagles confirmed Wilfred Ndidi will miss the tournament due to injury with Royal Antwerp midfielder Alhassan Yusuf called in as his replacement.

Now, Victor Boniface another key player, who was tipped to play a big role in Super Eagles AFCON campaign, has been sidelined as well.

As per Fabrizio Romano, Victor Osimhen is ruled out of 2023 AFCON due to a groin injury he picked up while in the Super Eagles’ AFCON preparatory camp.

The report adds Boniface has left the camp and will travel back to Germany where he will undergo treatment and rehabilitation.

⛔️🇳🇬 Victor Boniface will miss the AFCON for Nigeria due to groin injury, he’s expected to be out for six weeks.

Massive blow for the Super Eagles and one more injury to manage for Bayer Leverkusen. pic.twitter.com/OF5sDWWv9J

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 8, 2024

 

He is set to miss action for six weeks due to the injury. The red-hot Bundesliga forward will be a big absence for the Super Eagles as he was tipped to recreate his prolific Bundesliga debut at the tournament.

Taking to his social media handle, Victor Boniface disclosed his injury in dejectory tones.

He wrote;

U20 nations cup got injured 7 days before nations cup

Super eagles got injured 6days before Nations cup

Na Only GOD Knows why
🙏

U20 nations cup got injured 7 days before nations cup

Super eagles got injured 6days before Nations cup

Na Only GOD Knows why
🙏 pic.twitter.com/BMJv8p9Jqs

— Victor Boniface (@boniface_jrn) January 8, 2024

2023 AFCON would have been Boniface’s maiden AFCON appearance for the Super Eagles. The team will be hoping to end their 10-years wait for the continental crown as they kick off proceedings against Equatorial Guinea in January 14 before battling Ivory Coast, and Guinea-Bissau in Group A.