Ndidi speaks on the absence of Osimhen, Aina, Troost-Ekong, Musa; vows to show Rohr what he's missing 

Wilfred Ndidi attended the pre-match match conference on Sunday afternoon to preview Nigeria's crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Benin's Cheetahs, and one of the topics he touched on was the absence of four key players named to the Super Eagles' 2023 Africa Cup of Nations squad. 

Manager Finidi George is without the services of reigning African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen, AFCON Best Player William Troost-Ekong, fullback Ola Aina who was named in the Team of the Tournament, plus team captain Ahmed Musa. 

Osimhen is unavailable for selection due to injury, while Troost-Ekong and Musa have not been called up because they are lacking match fitness. 

Ndidi is not losing sleep over the missing players, saying that there are other quality players within the Super Eagles squad who can get the job done.

Regarding how the Super Eagles will cope without the four players, Ndidi told reporters: "For me, these players are very key to us, they are experienced players.

"For everything the team comes first, when players are not available they are always good players to fill up those positions.

"The team is always ready for this and though we miss those players, no doubt, it doesn't change the fact that we actually want to qualify for the World Cup."

Benin manager Gernot Rohr worked with majority of the Super Eagles players during his tenure as Nigeria coach, before he was let go in acrimonious circumstances a month before the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

Nddi is relishing the prospect of facing Rohr who will be in the other side of the dugout on Monday evening.

"Gernot Rohr, he coached us for five years, but within those years players are coming, players are going.

"Facing him is actually a motivation because we know he's a good coach, and we know he's going to plan to win.

"We approaching that game we have to show him that he actually missed something in the team, that's what we have to do now."

Ndidi has played twice against tomorrow's opponent, helping the Super Eagles register two wins in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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