The Indisputable Rise Of Nigerian Midfielder.

Onyinye Wilfred Ndidi, born 16 December 1996. He is from Southeastern part of Nigerian, the Igbo tribe. Ndidi started to show what he can do, which he was part of the Nigerian youth setup during his time at Nathaniel Boys of Lagos.

Ndidi started his professional club career at Genk. He was a debutant in a match which they loss 1-0 away defeat in 31 January 2015 against Charleroi. Ndidi scored a long-range goal, which was named the goal of the season in the Belgian league, this was what later became Ndidi’s normal routine, long-range shot.

On 3 December 2016, Genk agreed a £17 million transfer deal with English champions Leicester City. The deal was confirmed on 5 January 2017. Leicester City was looking out to Ndidi to give them the balance in the midfield regarding the uncertainty surrounding Kante’s future at the club, who was the key factor to Leicester City triumph.

Not long after they confirmed his signing, he made his debut for the club on 7 January 2017, in a 2-1 win against Everton in the third round of the FA cup. Seven days later he made his premier league start on 14 January 2017 against Chelsea at home in a 3-0 defeat. Ndidi first goal arrived in the half of extra time, against Derby County on 8 February 2017, through a long-range shot. Ndidi won many tackles.

Ndidi was sent off for the first time in his career during a 3-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace on 16 December, which was his birthday.

Leicester City will rightly say they made the right decision in signing Ndidi, all hope may be lost when Kante joined Chelsea, the Frenchman attracted attention after a superb season with Leicester City, Ndidi has filled the void created by Kante when he left.

His work is amazingly good, giving everything in the pitch, his strength and capacity to try his luck outside penalty area.

Ndidi was called up to the senior Nigeria national football team ‘Super Eagles’ on 8 October 2015, he was a debutant in the friendly game against DR Congo.

Subsequently he has been selected by Nigeria, he was part of the 30-man squad for the 2018 world cup in Russia.

He was also included in the African cup of Nations 2019 squad. This season has been a good tale for the Nigerian, who was the man behind the indomitable Leicester City boys, the arrival of Brendan Rogers changed everything and gave them new look.

Rogers trusted Ndidi stability and stamina playing only him behind Maddison, Barnes, Tielemans and Perez normally he would have opted for two defensive midfielders, it gives the manager the impression, that he is capable of the job entrusted under his care.

There is no doubt in near future, big clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona or Manchester United could come after him, if his development curve rise.

“Any time my dad went to work I would go and play”, Ndidi said in an interview with BBC World Service.

“I would then get the signal that he was coming and go back to what I was doing, so he didn’t know I’d been playing. I got caught several times but was still going. I love football. I just want to play.”

Like other footballers who started their careers in the academies of professional football clubs, Ndidi’s route to stardom started on the roads around the military barracks where he grew up in.

“We would wrap sheets of papers up and using sellotape make it into a ball,” he adds. “There was no money to buy footballs.

“We played on the main road, using two tyres as goals. The big guys were using the good pitch, we had nothing to use and just played on the road.”

Ndidi has said how Nduka Ugbade, played important role in his life and career, a man who will push you out of your comfort zone. The coach managing army barracks youth team, former Nigeria international.

Ndidi used his big chance to impress international scouts.

“There were about 40 teams that came for the tournament,” says Ndidi. “I got the ball and made a run, a one-two run into the middle. I have a simple pass to the striker. No-one had seen him so I just gave it to him between the defenders and he went and scored. That was the only game I played.”

Genk scout Roland Janssen, was impressed by the teenager work rate. He invited Ndidi for a trial with the Belgian side.

“When I came to Belgium the coach was Alex McLeish and he was putting me at right-back and left-back,” Ndidi continues.

“Then a new coach came in and put me in midfield but it was so strange because the first game I played there I was substituted in the 32nd minute.

“After that I went back to basics- take the ball, look around, pass, take the ball, look around, pass.”

At Genk, he was nicknamed Teddy Bear because of his calm demeanour and ability to take being the butt of some of the team’s jokes in good humour.

Ndidi will surely be an inspiration to younger kids out there, your dream can drive you far away if only you stay hungry and humble all the time.

The zeal to push harder is always there, his working ethics only speak for him in the field. In May 2019, Ndidi decided to settle down with his longtime girlfriend Dinma Fortune in the capital city of Nigeria, Abuja where the wedding took place.

Ndidi has an outstanding personality, instead of to cool off with friends after training or have fun. He realized that there is enough time, so he tries to make something from that by enrolling for the degree in Business and Management at De Montfort university.