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Tag: Ndidi

  • Ndidi set to join Awoniyi at Nottingham Forest

    Ndidi set to join Awoniyi at Nottingham Forest

    Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi is reportedly ‘close’ to signing for Nottingham Forest, with the player ‘pushing’ for a move.

    It is set to be a busy few days for City as the summer transfer deadline approaches. Both incomings and outgoings are expected at the King Power Stadium between now and Friday’s 11pm deadline, with Enzo Maresca continuing his rebuild of the squad.

    Reports of Forest’s interest in Ndidi emerged on Sunday evening, with it claimed that Steve Cooper’s side were set to launch a bid for the Nigeria international. It was also claimed that personal terms had been sorted with the player ahead of any potential move.

    Read Also; Manchester United rally from two goals down to beat 10-man forest

    TalkSPORT have since reported that a transfer for Ndidi is ‘close’ and that the player himself is ‘pushing’ for a move to be completed before Friday’s 11pm deadline. Ndidi is one of the players who has just a year left on his deal with City.

    The 26-year-old has been with the club since joining from Genk in January 2017. He has been a regular in the team since then, but has recently struggled to find his top form as City suffered relegation last season.

    The midfielder has started all five games in all competitions so far this season, scoring in the Carabao Cup win over Burton Albion. He is, however, being asked to play a different role to usual under new manager Maresca, and has competition for his place from Chelsea loanee Cesare Casadei, with some fans calling for the youngster to start ahead of him.

    Ndidi has played a total of 242 times for City, scoring 12 times and providing 12 assists. Those appearances have included appearances in the Premier League, Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League, as well as being part of the first City team to lift the FA Cup.

  • Iheanacho, Ndidi in action as Leicester claim away victory

    Iheanacho, Ndidi in action as Leicester claim away victory

    Super Eagles duo, Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi were in action to help Leicester City claim a 1-2 away victory over Rotterdam United in their league fixture on Saturday, Soccernet.ng reports.

    Both Nigeria Internationals have been heavily linked with a move from the King Power Stadium following Leicester City’s relegation from the Premier League last term, but they have since been an integral part of the team, appearing in all their matches so far this season.

    Kasey McAteer gave Leicester City the perfect start just twelve minutes into the game after meeting Kelechi Iheanacho’s cross from the left flank.

    Read Also: ‘Dessers will not disappoint Rangers’

    The Foxes took control of the game thereafter but failed to convert their chances leaving them with just a goal ahead at the interval.

    Just eight minutes into the second half, Fred Onyedinma leaped highest to head the ball home beyond keeper Mads Hermansen to draw Rotterdam back leveled.

  • Ogu slams Ndidi CAF snub

    Super Eagles’ midfielder John Ogu has expressed his frustration after seeing no Nigerian named in the inaugural CAF next XI, positing that the likes of Wilfred Ndidi and William Troost-Ekong deserve a place in the selection, AOIFootball.com reports.

    Despite playing at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and qualifying for the AFCON with a game to spare, no Nigerian was deemed fit to make the cut, a decision that has left sour taste for Ogu.

    “Let’s put sentiments aside. I can argue this anywhere that Ndidi and Troost-Ekong, even Ighalo should be there. Awards are based on your performance for club and country and not how big of a club you play in. Ndidi plays in arguably the best league in the world.

    “How someone comes up here and says clubs they play matters. Like are you kidding me? Ekong and Ndidi had a better seasons for their clubs, made it to the World Cup. They had decent performances at the World Cup and you say clubs they play for matter? Aurier, Bailly, Keita all didn’t make it and the latter two are even bench warmers,” Ogu twitted expressing his disappointment.

    The Hapoel Be’er Sheva midfielder, however, praised the duo of Ndidi and Ekong, saying he remains proud of them despite the snub by CAF.

    “My brothers Ndidi and Troost-Ekong, we are proud of you. I see you guys every day in the national team and I see how dedicated and motivated you both are. I’m super proud of you two. Never stop working. You guys are destined for the top,” Ogu concluded.

     

  • CAF AWARDS: Iwobi, Oshoala, Ndidi lead Nigeria’s charge

    Super Eagles’ forward, Alex Iwobi is Nigeria’s only hope of winning the 2018 African Footballer of the Year Award as he made it to the final 10 nominees for the award after the duo of Odion Ighalo and Ahmed Musa were dropped from the initial 34 earlier released by CAF.

    Iwobi will have to contend with reigning champion Mohammed Salah, Gunners teammate Aubemeyang and of course, Senegal’s Saido Mane who are all favourites for the award.

    In the young player category, Super Eagles’ and Leicester City midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi remains on course to claim his first CAF award after the Nigerian made the final three nominations alongside Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Franck Kessie of Ivory Coast.

    It was, however, all good for Nigeria in the women’s category with three-time African Footballer of the Year, Asisiat Oshoala making the cut with Francisca Ordega and defender Onome Ebi. Desire Oparanozie was dropped from the initial list.

    2018 AWCON MVP and highest goal score Christina Thembi Kgatlana will definitely be the favourite to dislodge Oshoala after the South African forward impressed at the recently concluded championship in Ghana.

    Similarly, Nigeria female national team, the Super Falcons have also been shortlisted for the team of the year, while head coach Thomas Dennerby also makes the cut for the coach of the year award.

    The shortlisted nominees were decided by votes from the members of the CAF Technical & Development Committee.

    The final phase will involve votes from CAF media experts, legends, coaches of the quarter-finalists of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup, and coaches and captains of the 54 member associations.

    The Awards Gala will be held on January 8, 2019 in Dakar, Senegal.

  • New six-year deal: Ndidi stays at Foxes ‘till 2024

    Nigeria International, Wilfred Ndidi is thrilled to have committed his future to Leicester City moments after signing a new six-year deal with the Foxes.

    Ndidi told the club’s official website that negotiations for the new contract was very easy for him because he has enjoyed memorable moments since he joined Leicester from Genk in January 2017 in a £14m deal.

    “I’m very happy to sign this contract with Leicester City,” Ndidi said. “I have enjoyed every moment of my time with the football club, so I’m thrilled to be here for six more years.

    “Together with my team-mates and our wonderful supporters, I hope we can look forward to many more fantastic moments.”

    The Super Eagles’ star has played 63 times for the Foxes with the 21-year-old winning Leicester’s Young Player of the Year in each of the last two campaigns.

  • It’s great to be back —Ndidi

    Leicester City defensive midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi is happy playing again for the Super Eagles of Nigeria after gaining full fitness.

    The lanky Nigerian international played his first international friendly against Czech Republic on Wednesday in Austria.

    Before the Czech game, Ndidi had missed out of the matches the Eagles played against Congo DR and England.

    After the team’s training at the Avita Resort pitch in Bad Tatzmannsdorf, Austria yesterday, Ndidi told NationSport that he was excited to be back playing again for the national team.

    “I feel good and excited returning to play for the Super Eagles. We are really enjoying ourselves” He began in the interview.

    “It’s great coming back to the team at this time when the World Cup is almost starting. I’m happy to play with my teammates.”

    Ndidi also allayed fears about the results of the team in recent friendly matches.

    “We may not have won our last three friendly games but as players, we understand what is at stake and we will surely rise to the occasion in Russia, which is much more important than results of friendly matches

    “We will try as much as possible to pick vital lessons from all the matches we lost and hopefully, everything will be alright in Russia”

    The defensive midfielder said the competition for starting places in the team has not made the 23 players to forget that the squad comes first before individual interest.

    “It’s about the team not really the contest to get starting shirts. We will all give 100 per cent support to any player picked by the coach to be in the first 11,” he added.

  • Mikel, Ndidi, Moses battle for King of the Pitch gong

    Organisers of the Nigeria Pitch Awards have revealed nominees for its annual event with Super Eagles’ trio of Victor Moses, Wilfred Ndidi and John Mikel Obi earmarked for the coveted King of the Pitch gong for year 2017/2018.

    The unveiling of nominees was held in Lagos on Wednesday, with the presence of Pastor Ituah Ighodalo of SIAO Partners; Ms Aisha Falode (Chairperson of Nigeria Women Football League); thespian Segun Arinze; award-winning teenage actress, Esther-Whyte Bassey and a host of other distinguished media personalities.

    Speaking at the event, President of Nigeria Pitch Awards, Shina Phillips reiterated the commitment of the organisers to reward excellence, adding that it was incumbent on his team to present a credible and transparent reward system that anybody would be proud of.

    “As organisers, we have put in place a credible and transparent reward system for Nigerian footballers and stakeholders who have consistently displayed exceptional talents, skills, passion and commitment to improving the standard of our football,” noted Phillips.

    He said the Nigeria Pitch Awards has grown to become a significant part of Nigeria football, hence efforts would be geared to making the sixth edition to be held in Lagos in June, a memorable event.

    Meanwhile, Falode has described the Nigeria Pitch Awards as a unique platform in its own right, even as she praised the organisers for their consistency over the years: “We must commend the organisers for their efforts over the years because this is an award we have known for its credibility and perfect execution and it has continued to wax stronger despite lack of corporate sponsorship.”

    Falode also canvassed for additional categories for women’s football and her request was promptly endorsed by the organisers promising to increase the slots from two to four in the subsequent editions.

    Pastor Ighodalo whose firm SIAO Partners is in charge of the voting process, equally agreed that there should be an award category for the New Media for their massive presence on the internet.

    Gongs would be given out in 16 categories at the forthcoming event, and The Nation’s reporter Olalekan Okusan has been shortlisted for the Football Journalist of the Year (Print) category.

  • No return date for Ndidi

    Leicester City has provided an update on the fitness of their players before they take to the pitch for tonight’s Premier League clash with West Ham United.

    The Foxes manager Claude Puel was very cautious when he briefed reporters as he did not shed any light on the hamstring injury suffered by Wilfred Ndidi and did not state whether or not the midfielder will be fit for the 2018 World Cup.

    The Nigeria international is one of nine Leicester City’s first-teamers that will not be on parade at the King Power Stadium tonight as a result of the injury he sustained last weekend against Crystal Palace.

    ”There’s an ankle problem with [Robert] Huth, [Shinji] Okazaki, [Kasper] Schmeichel, and [Ben] Chilwell in training,” Puel told reporters, according to lcfc.com.

    ‘‘[Matty] James has had tendon surgery. It’s a hamstring strain for [Wilfred] Ndidi and [Daniel] Amartey and [Marc] Albrighton is suspended.”

    As exclusively reported by allnigeriasoccer.com, the hamstring injury suffered by Ndidi will keep him out of action for six weeks.

  • Puel cries over Ndidi’s absence

    Claude Puel fears Wilfred Ndidi’s  suspension will leave a noticeable gap in the centre of Leicester’s midfield.

    The Foxes won 2-0 at Brighton on Saturday but the victory came at a cost as Ndidi was dismissed for a second bookable offence three minutes from time.

    He is set to serve a two-match suspension following his second red card of the season, while the ban could yet be increased because of his initial refusal to leave the field.

    Manager Puel, who thought Ndidi’s second yellow card – shown for a challenge on Brighton defender Shane Duffy – was harsh, said: “He is a very important player for us.

    “He will get possession in a lot of balls and prevents the opponent from making contact.

    “He’s been fantastic since the beginning of the season.

    “To lose him just in this moment of the season is harsh for us because as a team we do not have a lot of players with the same attributes.

    “We will try and find a solution, a collective response about this sending-off.”

    Late goals from Vicente Iborra and Jamie Vardy, either side of Ndidi’s dismissal, masked a poor performance from the Foxes as they boosted their Europa League aspirations on the south coast.

    Puel’s men were also indebted to goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, who atoned for his error in the FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Chelsea by saving Glenn Murray’s 77th-minute penalty.

  • Liverpool wants to sign Ndidi

    L iverpool wants to sign Leicester City workaholic midfielder Wilfred Ndidi in the summer to replace departing Emre Can at Anfield.

    The 21-year-old Nigeria international is linked to Merseyside with the German midfielder set to move away from the Reds at the end of his contract, however, Jurgen Klopp is said to be assessing a number of potential replacements for Can.

    Ndidi has become one of the key figures since he joined the former Premier League Champions Leicester from Belguim outfit Genk in January 2017.

    However, Guinean journalist Alpha Balde said Liverpool have already approached Super Eagles star over a possible switch in the summer, adding that the midfielder has already agreed but Leicester are likely to demand a big fee for a player who has impressed in his first 14 months at the King Power Stadium.

    Leicester boss Claude Puel has previously said that he has ‘no issues’ with Ndidi being linked to a bigger club in England’s top flight.

    Former Genk star has featured 29 times in all competition for the Foxes this season scoring four goals in the process.