Lorient midfielder Innocent Bonke has been announced as Wilfred Ndidi’s replacement in Nigeria’s squad for this week’s 2022 World Cup qualifier against Ghana.
According to a tweet from the Super Eagles, the 26-year-old has been drafted into Augustine Eguavoen’s squad for the matches billed for Kumasi and Abuja.
“Camp update: Innocent Bonke has been called up as a replacement for injured Ndidi for the World Cup qualifying games against Ghana. Get well quick Wilf,” it read.
Ndidi, 25, suffered a knee injury in Thursday’s 2-1 defeat to Rennes in a Europa Conference League clash – and was subsequently replaced by James Maddison on the hour mark.
Since his move from Malmo FF at the end of 2021, Bonke has featured in seven Ligue 1 matches for Christophe Pelissier’s men.
Next matches
He was in action from start to finish as the Merlucciidaes played out a 0-0 home draw with Strasbourg in Sunday’s league outing at the Stade du Moustoir.
Thanks to his impressive displays in Sweden, he was handed a maiden call-up by former coach Gernot Rohr.
He made his debut for the Nigeria national team on 7 September 2021 in a World Cup qualifier against Cape Verde.
Nigeria's full squad
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, Netherlands)
Defenders: Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Calvin Bassey (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal)
Midfielders: Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Innocent Bonke (Lorient, France); Oghenekaro Etebo (Watford FC, England); Akinkunmi Amoo (FC Copenhagen, Denmark)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain); Odion Jude Ighalo (Al-Hilal FC, Saudi Arabia); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Emmanuel Dennis (Watford FC, England); Ademola Lookman (Leicester City, England)
Reserves: Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Jamilu Collins (SC Paderborn 07, Germany); Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Taiwo Awoniyi (Union Berlin, Germany); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium); Peter Olayinka (SK Slavia Praha, Czech Republic); Ogenyi Onazi (Al-Adalah FC, Saudi Arabia)
