Nigerian Football
Wilfred Ndidi set to hit 200th mark for Leicester
Wilfred Ndidi is set for his 200th Leicester appearance in the Europa Conference League against Randers and has some big admirers ahead of the summer transfer window
Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers has admitted it will cost more than £50million to lure Wilfred Ndidi out of the club.
But despite several leading Premier League clubs such as Manchester United eyeing the ace, Ndidi insists he is settled at Leicester.
And he certainly wouldn’t be available cheaply after Rodgers responded to claims the ace might cost £50million by replying: “He’s worth much more than that.”
Holding midfielder Ndidi is under contract at Leicester until 2024 after joining in January 2017 from Genk.
He has recently moved into a new house locally, has started a young family and is also considering re-joining De Montfort University in Leicester to complete a business and management degree, which he put on hold in lockdown.
“My business degree was on hold as at the time it was during lockdown and then my daughter came.
“It is on hold but I am looking forward to it maybe next year.”
Ndidi has built up a good rapport in midfield alongside classy Belgian international Youri Tielemans at Leicester.
Ndidi added: “I am enjoying every moment. Youri is a great player and a player I love playing with in the middle.
“With his technique we both compliment each other. I am really happy because he is really doing well.
“For the time I am just enjoying the moment as much as possible. We are working with each other to protect the team.
“It has been really good.”
Rodgers, who has also used Ndidi at centre-back, assessed: “He’s been a really important player in my time here for his role“You see the importance of the role I give him in the team in how he protects the others.
“It’s a very young team as well and his experience and physicality helps those players. He’s been absolutely brilliant, whatever role I’ve asked him to play whether it’s centre-half or midfield.
“He gives us great physicality and there’s still lots of areas of his game he’ll improve on.
“I can’t speak highly enough of him. He’s a great guy who trains virtually every day – comes in with a joy to train and work well and learn.
“In every single game he gives his all – he’s been first class during my time here.
“A player of that quality with that mentality, of course you always want to keep.
“But when you have that player he will always attract that interest.
“But he seems very settled here and I know he’s moved into a new house over this last period and seems very happy.
“He’s a pleasure to work with, a good guy and hopefully he can be around the club for many, many years.”
-Mirror
Remo Stars on Saturday made it two straight wins in the Nigeria Premier League after labouring to a 1-0 defeat of Sunshine Stars of Akure to follow-up their last weekend 2-0 away win over Abia Warriors.
On Saturday, under eight minutes they shot ahead through Shuaibu Ibrahim. That was where the story ended as Sunshine Stars came up strongly and almost stalemated scores.
The win, though narrow, is enough to temporarily take Remo Stars to the top of the log after two games.
They are followed by Rivers United who beat Heartland 3-1. It is the second consecutive 3-1 loss that Heartland are getting in the two-week old season.
The situation could change on Sunday when other matches are played.
On the card are: Akwa United hosting Abia Warriors while Kano Pillars will be away to Bayelsa United.
Katsina United host Bendel Insurance and Niger Tornadoes will be home to Nasarawa United. Shooting Stars will host Plateau United.
BY KUNLE SOLAJA, who was in Arnhem, Netherlands.
Former Nigeria manager, Clemens Westerhof has recommended one of his former players, Samson Siasia as the substantial coach for the Super Eagles.
Siasia was one of his players of the famed golden generation of the Super Eagles.
“I called him last month to greet him for his birthday and also to celebrate with him for the end of his five-year ban”, Westerhof told Sports Village Square at his house in Arnhem in the Netherlands.
According to him, Siasia is just like Keshi and that he has the capacity to turn the Super Eagles around for the better. Westerhof, the author of the famed ‘Golden Generation’ of the Super Eagles made his suggestion shortly after Germany’s Bruce Labbadia turned down the Nigerian job offer.
Westerhof remarked that he was surprised about the choice of Labbadia in the first instance and that the now Mali coach, Tom Saintfiet who is his friend could have been a better choice.
Saintfiet, a Belgian, was speculated among the coaches initially short-listed for the Super Eagles’ job. But Westerhof, before the naming of Austin Eguavoen, another member of his famous 1994 squad, strongly back Siasia for the job.
He remarked that he was in touch with the former striker as well as Austin Okocha whom he met with in London recently.
To Westerhof, Siasia has the same quality like Stephen Keshi to handle the Super Eagles. “He has done it before and I think he can still do it.”
The balls hit the nets 17 times this Sunday as the Nigeria Premier League Season 2024/25 burst into life this Sunday.
The first of the goals was from Plateau United’s Olawale Doyeni who converted a 24th minute penalty kick against Katsina United in an eventual 1-0 home win.
Another star-man of the the day is Enyimba’s Clinton Jephta who has become the season’s first hat-trickster. His three goals in the 65th , 70th and 73rd minutes sank heartland 3-1 in their home match.
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