Former Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh has thrown his weight behind Wilfred Ndidi’s growing influence in the national team, insisting the Besiktas midfielder is already seen as a leader within the squad.

Speaking on the Super Eagles’ leadership dynamics ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, Oliseh said Ndidi commands strong respect among his teammates and has consistently demonstrated the qualities expected of a team captain.

“At the moment, I think nobody doubts the respect the players have for Ndidi. And he's a player that plays every game,” he said on the Oliseh Insight Podcast. 

“I am not trying to push for who is going to be captain, but I think Ndidi is already the captain anyways because he captained the last game.”

Oliseh, who once captained Nigeria and later coached the team, urged Ndidi, or whoever is eventually named captain, to embody the proactive leadership style he and the late Stephen Keshi were known for. 

According to him, true captaincy goes beyond wearing the armband or waiting for instructions from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). He stressed that strong internal leadership is vital for the team’s preparation and unity.

“On the player's side, this is where whoever is the leader of the team, this is where he has to show the Oliseh Keshi leadership,” he added.  

“That is, don't wait for the NFF to start calling the players to come to camp. You as a captain, like I used to do and what Keshi used to do, you call the players privately and let them know, boss me, I am getting to the camp.”

Oliseh added that effective leaders make personal arrangements with their clubs and encourage teammates to report early to camp.

“We are resuming on the ninth, I have already arranged with my club, I should be there on the eighth as a captain, I will be there on the ninth please make sure you're there on the ninth, this is Morocco, flights are coming in the morning, that way you already have the first training session as a group.”

The former Borussia Dortmund midfielder, who remains optimistic about the Super Eagles’ chances at the upcoming AFCON, also urged coach Eric Chelle to show strong character and decisiveness if he hopes to succeed at the tournament.

“I am very optimistic that the Super Eagles can do well at this tournament. The first thing the manager has to do is that he has to grow a little bit stubborn,” he advised. 

“He has to grow stubborn because it is no secret that people from outside will try to influence who plays who doesn't play.

“I think he has to grow stubborn and stand his ground and show personality that he is responsible.”

Nigeria have been placed in Group C of the biennial competition alongside Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania.

Adeyemi Adewale