Nigeria’s Tochukwu Nnadi ruled out of PSG clash as Marseille injury setback deepens

Marseille will be without Super Eagles midfielder Tochukwu Nnadi when they face Paris Saint-Germain in Sunday’s Le Classique after the Nigerian failed to recover from a knee injury.

Marseille coach Bruno Genesio confirmed Nnadi’s absence ahead of the highly anticipated fixture, ruling out a return for the midfielder as the French club prepares for a major Ligue 1 test.

Nnadi picked up the injury during the second half of Marseille’s 2-0 defeat to Monaco at the Stade Louis II. The midfielder was unable to continue and was replaced by Neal Maupay as Marseille suffered defeat.

Nnadi opts against surgery

The injury has kept Nnadi out of Marseille’s last two league matches against Paris FC and Rennes, extending his spell on the sidelines as the club manages his recovery.

Rather than undergo surgery, the Nigerian opted for conservative treatment in an attempt to reduce his time away from competitive action and accelerate his eventual return.

However, that approach has not allowed him to recover in time for Sunday’s meeting with PSG, leaving Genesio with limited options in midfield for one of the biggest games on Marseille’s calendar.

Speaking at his press conference on Saturday, Genesio confirmed that Nnadi and Godfrey Kondogbia are the only players who will miss the encounter because of injury.

“Only Nnadi and Kondogbia will be unavailable ,” the Marseille coach told the media via Made In Marseillais.

Super Eagles absence continues

Nnadi’s latest setback also means his injury has continued to affect his international commitments.

The midfielder was not included in the Super Eagles squad for Ghana’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau. He also missed Nigeria’s friendly against Russia during the international window.

His continued absence from both club and international football has interrupted his momentum at a crucial stage of the season, with the midfielder now facing another period of rehabilitation.

With a three-week international break approaching, Nnadi is expected to use the additional time to concentrate on his recovery and work towards returning to full fitness.

Marseille will hope the extended break gives the Nigerian enough time to overcome the knee problem and return when club football resumes. His eventual comeback will also be important for the Super Eagles as they continue their preparations for the next round of competitive fixtures.