Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has praised the performance of Frank Onyeka, Alhassan Yusuf, Alex Iwobi, and other midfielders at the last Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
The Leicester City midfielder missed the continental showpiece due to injury, but other midfielders stepped up and played a key role in Nigeria's silver-winning campaign.
Though back in the team now and competing for spots in the midfield with the likes of Alhassan Yusuf, Frank Onyeka, and Raphael Onyedika, Ndidi feels that healthy competition is beneficial and can only strengthen the team, especially with the World Cup qualifiers on the horizon.
Responding to questions at the press conference ahead of Nigeria's clash with South Africa in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Uyo, Ndidi emphasised the importance of collective effort and the challenge posed by Bafana Bafana.
Wilfred Ndidi – I am not competing with anyone
“For me, I was really impressed with the team at the AFCON. When you talk about competition, for me as a player, the team comes first,” Ndidi said.
“I am not in competition with any player. The most important thing is what the team is doing, because the national team, as we say in the military, ‘soldier go, soldier come’ – loosely translated to ‘a player goes and a player comes in’.”
On whether there is tougher competition for the defensive midfield position, Ndidi stressed that the focus should be on the upcoming game rather than individual rivalries.
“Every player that is given the opportunity to play always tries to give his best.
“This is not the time to talk about if there is pressure or competition in any position,” the former Genk midfielder said. “There's a reason why everyone is coming together.
Focus is on the game against South Africa
“We are only focused on the game against South Africa and not who is in the team or not.
“The most important thing is how the team approaches the game.” he added
Ndidi is fresh from winning the Championship with Leicester City and earning promotion to the English Premier League.
He will likely be a key figure as Nigeria aim to secure their first three points of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against South Africa's Bafana Bafana on Friday night at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
Ndidi is expected to captain the team in the absence of Ahmed Musa and William Troost-Ekong, bringing his leadership and experience to the forefront as the Super Eagles look to make a strong start to this latest round of qualifiers
