The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has officially ushered in a new era of leadership after Besiktas midfielder Wilfred Ndidi was named as the new Super Eagles captain.
Ndidi was named as Super Eagles captain following the international retirements of long-serving veterans Ahmed Musa and William Troost-Ekong.
The announcement comes at a pivotal moment as Nigeria lands in Morocco to begin its quest for a fourth Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy.
Ndidi’s promotion to the permanent role is seen as a natural progression for the 28-year-old.
Having earned over 70 caps since his debut in 2015, he has frequently served as the stand-in captain during crucial qualifiers.
Speaking on the responsibility, Ndidi said, “It’s a huge responsibility, and with the help of the players, everything will go smoothly.
Ahead of the AFCON and the objective of the Super Eagles team, Ndidi said, “I have had conversations with the players, trying to make them understand the reason why we are here. We also need support from the staff and to have conversations about what’s ahead. It is very important that everyone is on the same page.”
He also paid tribute to his predecessor, William Troost-Ekong, praising his leadership and influence within the team.
“He is a great leader, he speaks for the team, he stands for the team. I admire him a lot. How outspoken he is. He is one person everyone looks up to. He is an amazing guy. I have learnt a lot from him. We spoke a couple of weeks ago, and I still chipped in some advice; I feel he is still part of the team. He is going to be missed.”
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that Nigeria enters the tournament as one of the heavy favorites, fueled by a star-studded 28-man squad including Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman.
It has been 12 years since Nigeria last tasted continental success in 2013 under the late Stephen Keshi.
With the first group game against Tanzania just days away, Nigerian fans are hopeful that this change in leadership will provide the tactical and emotional stability needed to finally secure that elusive fourth star.
