Besiktas midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has been named the new captain of the Super Eagles ahead of Nigeria’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign in Morocco. 

“Wilfred Ndidi has been named captain of the Super Eagles and says the responsibility means everything as Nigeria heads to Morocco,” the official Super Eagles X account posted on Friday. 

Ndidi’s emergence as the team’s newest leader followed the retirement of William Troost-Ekong from the national team earlier this month. 

Reacting to the announcement, Ndidi, who made his Super Eagles debut in 2015, described the responsibility as a “huge role,” calling on players and staff to work together towards the task ahead of the team in Morocco. 

“It is a huge role, but I think with the help of the players, everything will go smoothly. I have had conversations with a couple of the older players to make them understand the reason why we are here,” the 29-year-old said.

He added, “I also need the support of the staff because we are all in this together. We have had conversations about the task ahead, and it is very important that we are all on the same page.”

The Super Eagles are in Group C of the AFCON alongside 2004 champions Tunisia, 1978 runners-up Uganda, and Tanzania. 

Nigeria’s first match is on December 23 against Tanzania’s Taifa Stars at the Complexe Sportif de Fes, where they will also tackle Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles (December 27) and the Cranes of Uganda (December 30).