Super Eagles midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi, has been named in the highly revered and authoritative France Football Magazine African Team of the Year for 2018, Completesports.com reports.
Ndidi, who plays for English Premier League side, Leicester City is the only Nigerian player named in the squad.
The former Genk of Belgium star was eulogised by the popular magazine for his ball winning ability for Leicester City.
“He is certainly not the most spectacular player of his selection or even Leicester. But in his record, the former defensive midfielder Genk has also settled in the midfield and statistics in the Premier League are exceptional, both in terms of tackles than balls recovered. As such, the young Nigerian was named by the CAF among the best hopes of the year. At 21, his club has extended it (his contract) until 2024 but he is not sure he has totally secured his super middle.” the magazine stated.
Ndidi is paired in midfield along with Atletico Madrid and Black Stars of Ghana star, Thomas Partey and Hakim Ziyech of Morocco.
Senegal’s Saido Mane and Egypt forward, Mohamed Salah are the two other
England based players in the squad.
FRANCE FOOTBALL’S AFRICAN BEST XI OF 2018:
Goalkeeper
Andre Onana – Cameroon, Ajax
Defenders
Yousef Atal – Algeria, Nice
Kalidou Koulibaly – Senegal, Napoli
Manu Da Costa – Morocco, Istanbul
Achraf Hakimi – Morocco, Dortmund
Midfielders
Thomas Partey – Ghana, Atletico Madrid
Wilfred Ndidi – Nigeria, Leicester City
Hakim Ziyech – Morocco, Ajax
Forwards
Riyad Mahrez – Algeria, Man City
Sadio Mane – Senegal, Liverpool
Mohamed Salah – Egypt, Liverpool
SUBSTITUTES:
Samatta (Tanzania, Genk), Gana Gueye (Sénégal, Everton), Pépé (Côte d’Ivoire, Lille), Aubameyang (Gabon, Arsenal), Bounou (Morocco, Girona), Badri (Tunisia, Espérance), Toko Ekambi (Cameroon, Villarreal).
By Adeboye Amosu
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COMMENTS
We look forward to seeing Nigerians dominating this list in the future. Morocco has really grown in leaps and bounds with as many players in the main squad and reserve.
Nigerian players really need to pull themselves up by their own bootstrap and get less lazy. Hard work does it.
Morocco will definitely be a contender at this AFCON. Their only problem could be lack of a proven goal scorer. That’s why Egypt with Salah will also be a Handful likewise Senegal with Mane. However, in terms of dynamism and the number of young talents at our disposal SuperEagles will also be in the mix of favorites.
A deserving nomination for Wilfred Ndidi,the most consistent Nigerian in Europe.
His nomination among African’s best XI in 2018 is a testament to his amazing quality and a reward for his industry n hardwork in the EPL.
Ndidi who joined from little known Genk
has grown to be a household name in the EPL, which boasts of some of the best defensive midfield players in the world: Kante,Matic.
Hope other Nigeria young stars like Chukwueze, Onyekuru, Kalu,Iwobi. draw inspirations from Ndidi’s achievement through hardwork.
Congratulations Ndidi, world’s best defensive midfield general.
ndidi my africa best player behind salah. and best defensive midfielder in the world.