Stand-in Eagles skipper Ndidi given another leadership role as Besiktas vice captain

STAND-IN Super Eagles skipper Wilfred Ndidi has received another acknowledgment of his leadership qualities on the pitch with his Turkish clubside Besiktas naming him as their vice captain despite only joining the side this season.

Ndidi, 27, captained Nigeria for the recent World Cup qualifier against Benin Republic, taking over from substantive skipper William Ekong who was dropped from the starting line-up. With Ekong, 32, no longer a sure starter for Nigeria, Ndidi has been increasingly called upon to assume the captain's role and could likely lead the team out at future major tournaments.

Now, his clubside Besiktas have given the former Leicester City midfielder some extra responsibility too, naming him as the club's vice captain. Ndidi only joined Besiktas at the start of the season and has just played in five league matches and made two appearances in Europe but it appears that his leadership qualities have not gone unnoticed.

Since moving to Turkey, Ndidi has settled quickly into life in Istanbul, delivering a string of assured performances in midfield. Besiktas revealed that Orkun Kökçü, on loan from Benfica and set for a permanent transfer next summer, will serve as the team’s new captain, with Ndidi deputising for him.

A club statement read: “With the decision of our president Serdal Adalı and our board of directors, a change has been made regarding the captaincy of our football A team. Orkun Kökçü has been appointed as the first captain of our football A team and Wilfred Ndidi as the second captain. We thank Necip Uysal and Mert Günok for their efforts and wish our new captains success.”

Both Kökçü and Ndidi will officially assume their duties when Besiktas face Gençlerbirliği in the Super Lig later today. Ndidi is expected to play a crucial role again next month when the Super Eagles regroup for the World Cup continental playoffs in Morocco, where Nigeria will face Gabon in a semi final on November 13 and the winner will take on either Cameroon or DR Congo in the final three days later.