Wilfred Ndidi: CAF advise Super Eagles over eligibility of midfield general for DR Congo play-off final

Wilfred Ndidi has been cleared to play for the Super Eagles in Sunday’s African World Cup playoff final against DR Congo, after CAF confirmed that his yellow cards from earlier World Cup qualifying matches have no impact on the decisive fixture. 

The midfielder, who was booked against Gabon on Thursday, had initially been ruled out by the technical crew, who believed he had triggered a suspension following an earlier caution against Rwanda in March.

The uncertainty left Eric Chelle’s plans for the final in flux, given how central Ndidi has been to the team’s stability throughout the qualifying series and the anxiety was understandable.

TEAM NEWS UPDATE 📰

CAF has confirmed that Wilfred Ndidi is eligible to feature for the Super Eagles in Sunday’s playoff clash against DR Congo.

Cautions accumulated during the World Cup qualifiers do not carry over into the playoffs; only confirmed suspensions apply. pic.twitter.com/hJNYMxdr64

— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) November 15, 2025

South Africa were recently punished by FIFA for fielding Teboho Mokoena while he should have been serving a one-match suspension for accumulated cautions, an infraction that led to their March result being overturned, a 3-0 forfeit loss to Lesotho, a three-point deduction, and a hefty fine. The case reshaped Group C and served as a reminder that compliance is non-negotiable at this level.

CAF clarification ends uncertainty surrounding Ndidi

CAF’s communication to the Nigeria Football Federation confirmed that only outright suspensions apply in the playoffs; accumulated yellow cards do not. 

The update restores Ndidi to full eligibility and settles all doubts about his availability for Sunday’s showdown in Rabat. With 70 caps to his name, he is one of the Super Eagles’ most experienced players and one of only a few in the current squad with World Cup pedigree. 

The news is a welcome boost for Eric Chelle and his staff, who had been preparing under the assumption that the Besiktas midfielder was unavailable. Ndidi received one caution during the qualifiers and another in the playoff semifinal, but neither booking triggers a suspension under CAF’s rules. 

The team reported no fresh injuries after the win over Gabon, and preparations have continued smoothly ahead of the crucial clash at Stade Moulay El Hassan.