Super Eagles: Oliseh calls for radical shake-up to internal leadership structure

Former Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh believes Wilfred Ndidi has quietly grown into one of the most influential voices in the Super Eagles dressing room, and the former captain says the midfielder’s expanding authority is already visible.

Although William Troost-Ekong remains the team’s official captain and is expected to lead Nigeria at what could be his final AFCON, Oliseh insists Ndidi’s emergence cannot be overlooked. The Besiktas midfielder has worn the armband in Nigeria’s last three to four matches, and Oliseh says that consistency reflects the trust within the squad. Speaking on his podcast, he noted that “nobody doubts the respect the players have for Ndidi. And he’s a player that plays every game.”

The 51-year-old stressed that leadership goes beyond who wears the armband. What matters, he said, is whose voice players respond to in decisive moments. Ndidi, in his view, has handled that responsibility calmly and without fuss, becoming a steady presence in the team’s structure.

Pointing to the midfielder captaining the most recent match, Oliseh added, “I am not trying to push for who is going to be captain, but I think Ndidi is already the captain anyway because he captained the last game.”

Oliseh challenges Super Eagles hierarchy to mirror Golden Generation standards

Oliseh expanded on his thoughts by urging whoever leads the team, Ekong, Ndidi, or any other senior player—to embrace a hands-on style of leadership similar to what he and the late Stephen Keshi practised.

He argued that internal organisation must come from within the squad rather than relying solely on federation structures.

“Don’t wait for the NFF to start calling the players to camp,” he said. “You as a captain call the players privately. Let them know: I am getting to camp on the eighth; you should be there on the ninth. That way, you already have the first training session as a group.”

The Super Eagles will compete in Group C against Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania at AFCON 2025, with camp scheduled to open on December 9 in Egypt ahead of their friendly fixture.

William Troost-Ekong is still the team’s official captain, but his role at the tournament is expected to be more limited, which could see Wilfred Ndidi assume greater responsibility with the armband while Ekong retains his status in name.