Despite Leicester City’s confirmed relegation from the Premier League, the Foxes remain determined to end the season on a high. Ahead of their weekend clash with Ipswich, Nigerian midfield powerhouse Wilfred Ndidi opens up about the campaign’s harsh lessons, three standout African players this season, what it means to represent Nigeria, and his time playing alongside the legendary Jamie Vardy.
With the upcoming AFCON, how much are you looking forward to joining the Nigerian national team? What does representing your country mean to you?
It’s a privilege to represent Nigeria. It’s an honour. Every time you get called up, it gives you goosebumps. It’s something that makes your family back home really proud. So, for me, it’s amasing.
But honestly, we’re not thinking about AFCON right now. Our focus is on qualifying for the World Cup, which is the most important thing at the moment. After that, we’ll look forward to AFCON.
The Premier League has seen a lot of standout African talent this season. Who are your top three African players of the campaign?
Ola Aina, Mo Salah, and I’d say Alex Iwobi. Not just because he’s Nigerian, but because of his character. He’s that guy with zero problems, well, maybe he has some, but you’d never know. He’s always vibing and trying to help others in his way.
He’s done really well, and honestly, he’s one of the fastest players I’ve seen. He might not look it, but he really is.
Jamie Vardy will leave Leicester at the end of the season. What has it been like sharing the pitch and dressing room with him?
It’s been an honour and a pleasure. Even after football, I’ll always say, “Yeah, I played with Jamie Vardy.” It’s a privilege.
He’s been amazing for years, such a strong personality and a real family man. Mentally, he’s one of the toughest guys I’ve met.
It’s been a great few years, filled with ups and downs, but through it all, he’s still Jamie Vardy.
We often see Vardy’s fun-loving side on camera. Is he the same off the pitch?
Oh yeah, he’s exactly the same. You have to stay on your toes around him, he could pop up with something crazy at any moment.
He’s annoying in a good way; he just keeps the vibe alive. He’s always doing impressions or jokes, trying to make things fun.
He even tries to speak Nigerian Pidgin! He learns phrases and uses them with the Nigerian guys. Everyone’s like, “Did he just say that?” That’s Jamie Vardy for you. He’s a great guy, really, really great.
This season hasn’t gone as planned for Leicester. What went wrong, and what can the team take away from it?
I think we gave up too quickly in some games. As soon as we conceded, heads dropped.
That shouldn’t happen. Going forward, we need to fight no matter what. That’s my biggest takeaway—we have to look ahead and keep pushing.
Looking back, is there a game this season that stands out for you personally?
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Yeah, the away game against Crystal Palace. We drew 2–2, and I got two assists.
Before the game, I was really quiet, just going through some personal stuff. I didn’t want to talk to anyone.
Then I went out and performed. That was a memorable one for me.
Which Premier League team impressed you most this season, overall?
Nottingham Forest.
They just keep things simple, defend well, score goals, and get the job done. They stick to the basics, and it works for them.
Which player gave you the toughest challenge this season?
I’d say Matthias Cunha from Wolves in our last game. He was everywhere, just doing his thing. He’s a really good player.
From a tactical point of view, which team was the hardest to play against?
Manchester City away. That game was tough.
We tried everything to get close to the ball, but we just couldn’t. Their ball movement, their positioning, it was on another level.
Looking ahead, is returning to the Premier League now Leicester’s main objective?
Of course. That’s the goal.
But first, we have to learn from this season. If we don’t, then it’s all a waste. We need to grow from this experience.
What was it like working with manager Ruvan Iskander?
He’s a great manager; amazing.
Things didn’t go our way, but I felt like he was left alone. The expectations were high when he came in, and when results didn’t come, there wasn’t much backing.
They should have given him more time. He’s a good guy and very open with everyone.
Anthony Nlebem
Head of Sports at BusinessDay Media, a seasoned Digital Content Producer, and FIFA/CAF Accredited Journalist with over a decade of sports reporting.Has a deep understanding of the Nigerian and global sports landscape and skills in delivering comprehensive and insightful sports content.