Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi will miss Nigeria’s international friendly with Algeria on September 27 after picking an injury in training on Wednesday.
Ndidi arrived at the Super Eagles training in Constantine earlier this week alongside his international teammates ahead of the meeting with the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations winner but copped a knock during training and will no longer participate in the encounter, returning to England to evaluate the injury.
This is yet another setback for the hard-tackling midfielder who in his first three full seasons at Leicester, played an average of 34 league games but has featured in an average of 22 league matches in the last two seasons, excluding this season no thanks to incessant injuries.
The 25-year-old missed the final 12 league games of 2021-22 for the Foxes after sustaining knee ligament damage against Rennes in the Europa Conference League in March.
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He subsequently played no part in the Super Eagles AFCON qualifiers against Sao Tome and Principe and Sierra Leone in June.
Nevertheless, Ndidi has featured in every Premier League game for the Foxes this season and was hoping for his first taste of action under new Nigeria manager Jose Peseiro.
Brentford midfielder Frank Onyeka or uncapped Raphael Onyedika, who is having a brilliant start to life in Belgium with champions Club Brugge, are the names in the frame to replace Ndidi in the Super Eagles’ starting line-up against the Desert Foxes, especially as regular Joe Aribo was excused to concentrate on his Southampton team.
Wilfred’s is one of several unfortunate injuries that have ruled a few Nigerian footballers out of the friendly match against Algeria.
Injuries to Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, Cardiff City’s Jamilu Collins, and Real Sociedad’s Umar Sadiq caused them to be omitted from head coach Jose Peseiro’s 25-man shortlist for the game.
Still, despite making the list, team captain Ahmed Musa, Nottingham Forest’s Emmanuel Dennis, Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze, and Adana Demirspor’s Henry Onyekuru have all been forced to withdraw due to injuries.
The Nation
How much is Mike Tyson, Jake Paul getting paid for the fight?
Jake Paul, a former child star and social media influencer who began his professional boxing career in 2020, on Saturday secured a victory against former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in a boxing bout.
The fight was livestreamed worldwide on Netflix, and Paul won by unanimous decision.
While the outcome surprised some, the financial stakes were just as intense as the match itself, with both fighters set to earn huge sums for their efforts.
Mike Tyson, widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers in history, is 58 years old and has an estimated net worth of $10 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
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While this figure is modest compared to the hundreds of millions Tyson earned during his career, including $400 million in fight purses according to Forbes, he’s also made a remarkable comeback after declaring bankruptcy in 2013 at age 37.
Although promoters did not disclose Tyson’s exact earnings from the fight, reports from sources like DraftKings Network estimate he will earn around $20 million.
This figure is comparable to the amount Tyson earned for his 1988 match against Michael Spinks, which had a record purse at the time (worth approximately $53 million today when adjusted for inflation). That fight ended in just 91 seconds, with Tyson knocking out the previously undefeated Spinks.
Jake Paul, 27, is expected to earn approximately $40 million, according to estimates from DraftKings Network and other sources. This is double the amount Tyson is projected to make. One reason for this disparity may be Paul’s status as a top social media influencer, with 27 million followers on Instagram alone. Additionally, Paul is the co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), the company promoting the fight in partnership with Netflix.
Paul’s net worth is estimated at $80 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
I don’t think so – Mike Tyson on boxing retirement after loss to Paul
After his defeat to Jake Paul, 58-year-old boxing legend Mike Tyson indicated that he has no immediate plans to retire
This is just as he had praises for Paul who he stood toe-to-toe with till the final round and ultimately lost to by a unanimous decision.
“I’m really happy. He was a good fighter and well prepared,” Mike Tyson said. “I didn’t prove anything to anyone. Just to myself.”
Asked on a knee brace that he wore for the fight, Tyson said: “I can’t use that as an excuse or wouldn’t have been in there.”
Asked if this was the end for Tyson in the ring, he concluded: “I don’t think so.”
Mike Tyson’s controversial return to boxing ended in a one-sided defeat on Friday, with Youtuber-turned-prizefighter Jake Paul cruising to victory by unanimous decision against the heavyweight icon in Texas.
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Tyson, 58, barely landed a punch during the eight-round bout at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, with Paul winning by big margins on all three cards — 80-72, 79-73 and 79-73.
Paul, 27, used his superior speed and movement to dominate the ageing Tyson with ease, and had the former undisputed heavyweight champion in trouble after landing a flurry of punches in the third round.
Super Eagles seal AFCON 2025 spot, draw 1-1 against Benin
Victor Osimhen’s late header helped the Super Eagles of Nigeria secure a 1-1 draw against Benin Republic in Abidjan, clinching their qualification for the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Benin, playing their matches in Côte d’Ivoire, took an early lead in the 16th minute when Mohammed Tijani headed in a short corner.
The goal followed a period of sustained pressure from the Beninoise side on the Nigerian defence.
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Benin nearly doubled their advantage shortly afterwards, but goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali made a crucial save to keep Nigeria in the game.
Osimhen threatened as the first half progressed, with a powerful header that narrowly missed the target.
In the second half, Benin came close again, but a shot veered inches wide of the right post, sparing the Eagles further trouble.
With nine minutes remaining, Osimhen rose to the occasion, connecting with a precise cross from Moses Simon to level the score at 1-1.
With this result, the Super Eagles top Group D with 11 points from five matches, while Benin hold second place with seven points.
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