The Super Eagles has received a monumental boost before their crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying playoff final against the Democratic Republic of Congo slated for Sunday.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially confirmed that midfield linchpin Wilfred Ndidi was eligible to play in the crucial match, dispelling earlier fears that he would be suspended for the monumental clash.
Ndidi, had received a yellow card during Nigeria’s 2–0 victory over Rwanda in the group stage back in March 2025. The situation escalated during the tense playoff semifinal against Gabon, where he was cautioned once more.
Following conventional football logic, where two yellow cards across competitive matches often trigger a one-match suspension, the Super Eagles’ technical crew, led by coach Eric Chelle, had all but written off their key player for the final.
In an official communication to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), CAF noted that yellow cards accumulated during the initial World Cup qualifying group stage were effectively wiped clean for the knockout playoff stage.
The only exception would be if a player had received a suspension that was directly carried over from the group phase. Since Ndidi’s first yellow was in the group stage and his second in the playoff, they did not combine to form a suspension for the final.
With this clearance, Wilfred Ndidi is now poised to earn his 71st international cap on Sunday, a testament to his enduring importance to the national team.
This last-minute reprieve injects a surge of confidence into the Nigerian camp as they prepare to face the formidable Leopards of DR Congo.
