Injury Woes Hit Super Eagles: NFF Clarifies Sudden Withdrawals of Ndidi, Onyedika Ahead of Friendly

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has moved swiftly to quell mounting speculation surrounding the sudden depletion of the Super Eagles roster, officially confirming why midfield linchpins Wilfred Ndidi, Raphael Onyedika, and other notable stars withdrew from the national team's scheduled international exhibition.

According to communications emerging from football house officials, the decision to excuse the players followed rigorous post-weekend medical assessments and formal requests lodged by their respective European club doctors. Ndidi, who has endured an intense domestic campaign in England, reportedly suffered a recurrence of muscle tightness, while Club Brugge’s Onyedika sustained a knock during recent continental fixtures, forcing team medics to prioritize long-term recovery over friendly outings.

The federation reiterated that while representing the green and white remains the apex priority for every invited professional, player welfare and athletic longevity take precedence in non-competitive windows.

"We conducted direct consultations with the medical departments of their respective clubs, and in alignment with international sports medicine protocols, taking risks during an exhibition tie was deemed counterproductive,"

an authorized spokesperson briefed sports correspondents.

The sudden exclusions initially sparked widespread concern across Nigeria's football-obsessed populace, with fears that top stars were perhaps boycotting the setup over administrative disagreements. However, technical officials have moved decisively to dispel those rumours, clarifying that all affected players remain fully committed to the national team structure.