Wilfred Ndidi talks about his responsibility as captain of the Super Eagles at AFCON 2025! | OneFootball

A great responsibility rests on the shoulders of a great player.

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A new leader has been entrusted with steering the ship as the Super Eagles set their sights on AFCON 2025. Wilfred Ndidi, the seasoned Besiktas midfielder, has officially been named captain, accepting the armband with a profound sense of duty and a clear vision of shared purpose.

For Ndidi, the honor is intertwined with a weighty understanding of what lies ahead. “It’s a huge responsibility, with the help of the players everything will be smooth,” he stated in his first remarks as captain to the Super Eagles media. His philosophy strips leadership of any solitary grandeur, framing it instead as the catalyst for unity. He emphasized that triumph in Morocco will not spring from individual command, but from a seamless fusion of effort—a pact of cooperation binding players, technical staff, and officials together.

The new skipper has not waited to begin weaving this collective spirit. Recognizing that alignment is the first crucial step, Ndidi has already initiated dialogues within the squad. “I have had conversation with a couple of the players. Just to let them know the reason why we are. I also need their support as well,” he revealed, outlining his approach. “The staff as well, we are all in this together.”

His message is one of clarity and common cause. “We have conversation on the task ahead, and it is important for us to be together on the same page,” Ndidi explained, underlining that the roadmap to success is charted through mutual understanding and unwavering commitment from every individual involved.

The task awaiting this unified front is now clearly defined. Drawn into a competitive Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania, Nigeria's campaign begins on December 23rd against Tanzania in Fès. They will then face Tunisia on the 27th before concluding the group stage against Uganda on December 30th.

As preparations intensify, Ndidi’s captaincy is shaping up not as a reign, but as a rallying call—a mission to forge one resilient, synchronized unit from a squad of stars, all striving for a single, glittering continental prize.