Dream Team key man Stanley Dimgba ruled out of U23 AFCON

Nigeria’s biggest attacking threat at the U23 AFCON Stanley Dimgba has been ruled out of the competition in Senegal by a long-term ankle injury it has been scooped.

The flying Warri Wolves winger has provided three assists in Nigeria’s group games against Mali and Egypt, before he suffered the injury which team officials now say will sideline him for some weeks.

“He is out of the AFCON. It’s a big loss to the team especially after what he showed in the first two matches against Mali and Egypt,” a source close to the team disclosed.

Dimgba missed Saturday’s group game against Algeria and he will also not be available for selection for Wednesday’s semi-final against hosts Senegal.

Bayelsa United winger Tiongoli Tonbara, who was a second half substitute against Algeria at the weekend, is most likely be a replacement for Dimgba, but he will be operating from the right after the Wolves star played on the left.

Coach Samson Siasia’s team will already be without skipper Azubuike Okechukwu for Wednesday’s clash with Senegal because he is suspended after he bagged a second booking against Algeria.