In a surprising verdict, former South Africa international Shaun Bartlett has identified midfield anchor Wilfred Ndidi as Nigeria's most crucial performer at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, notably overlooking star forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman.
Ndidi Earns High Praise from AFCON Winner
Speaking on SuperSport's AFCON podcast, the ex-Charlton Athletic striker and Cape Town Spurs legend lavished praise on the Super Eagles captain. Bartlett placed Ndidi in the elite company of legendary defensive midfielders like Spain's Sergio Busquets, France's Claude Makelele, and N'Golo Kanté.
The 53-year-old 1996 AFCON winner argued that Ndidi's vital, often unheralded work is frequently overshadowed by the attackers who grab headlines. "It is like when we watch Nigeria and Wilfred Ndidi play, nobody speaks about him," Bartlett stated. "We spoke about Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen... He's the most overlooked position."
He emphasized that players like Ndidi do the "hard, dirty work" but rarely receive the accolades, which instead go to the attacking players. Bartlett pointed to Nigeria's semi-final exit as proof of Ndidi's importance, noting the team needed "that person with a calm head, stability and variation of passes."
Super Eagles' Campaign Ends in Penalty Heartbreak
Bartlett's comments follow Nigeria's dramatic semi-final defeat to host nation Morocco on Wednesday, January 14, 2025. After a tense 0-0 draw over 120 minutes at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, the Super Eagles lost 4-2 in a penalty shootout.
The defeat was sealed after missed spot-kicks from Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi. This ended Nigeria's quest for a fourth AFCON title. The three-time champions will now face Egypt in the third-place playoff. Egypt fell 1-0 to Senegal in the other semi-final, with a goal from Sadio Mane deciding the contest.
Last Chance for Osimhen and Lookman?
Despite snubbing them for the "most important player" tag, Bartlett acknowledged that Osimhen and Lookman still have a final opportunity to leave their mark on the tournament. He suggested the third-place match is their chance to compete for the Golden Boot.
"The third-place match is an opportunity for Lookman or Osimhen to get top scorer slot after missing the trophy," Bartlett said. "If they want that accolade, they got an opportunity to do it. The only question is: Will they want to play?"
Nigeria's attacking record at the tournament was strong, with 14 goals scored in six matches, conceding only four. Their semi-final clash with Morocco was the only game in which the Super Eagles failed to find the net.
Bartlett's unique perspective adds to the post-tournament analysis, highlighting the often-underappreciated engine room of a team, even as the nation mourns a missed final berth.
