Sunday Oliseh has commended Wilfred Ndidi’s leadership. The former Super Eagles captain noted Ndidi’s quiet emergence as a key figure. He observed that the Besiktas midfielder now commands genuine respect from his teammates.

Speaking on the Oliseh Insight Podcast, Oliseh highlighted Ndidi’s maturity. He praised the player’s consistent performance. These qualities, he believes, naturally draw other players to him. Nigeria is currently preparing for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

“At the moment, I think nobody doubts the respect the players have for Ndidi,” Oliseh stated. He added, “He’s a player that plays every game.” Oliseh further suggested that Ndidi is already a de facto captain. “I am not trying to push for who is going to be captain,” he said, “but I think Ndidi is already the captain anyway because he captained the last game.”

The Importance of Proactive Captaincy

Oliseh, who once wore the Super Eagles armband, urged the next captain to be proactive. He called for a more hands-on leadership style.

He referenced his time with the late Stephen Keshi. They both took personal responsibility for team cohesion. This involved ensuring the squad remained united.

“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 explained. “That is, don’t wait for the NFF to start calling the players to come to camp.” Oliseh described how he and Keshi would personally call players. They would inform teammates about camp dates. “Boss me, I am getting to the camp,” he recalled telling them.

Strong leaders do more than routine duties. They arrange with their clubs for early camp arrival. They also encourage teammates to do the same.

“We are resuming on the ninth,” Oliseh gave an example. “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,” he said.

Advice for Coach Eric Chelle

Oliseh also offered advice to Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle. He expressed optimism about the team’s tournament prospects. “I am very optimistic that the Super Eagles can do well at this tournament,” he affirmed.

He urged Chelle to be firm in his decisions. “The first thing the manager has to do is that he has to grow a little bit stubborn,” Oliseh advised. External influences often try to impact team selection. “He has to grow stubborn and stand his ground and show personality that he is responsible,” he concluded.