In a Super Eagles team that boasts several individual talents and internationally recognised stars, Wilfred Ndidi has been praised as the most patriotic of the lot.
President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, has praised the devotion of the Leicester City midfielder to the national cause.
Ndidi has only missed a handful of games for Nigeria since making his international debut five years ago. The 23-year-old played every single minute of the three-time African champions' three matches at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
The former RC Genk star also featured in all seven games played by the coach Gernot Rohr-led side at the 2019 African Cup of Nations tournament in Egypt, where the Super Eagles picked up a bronze medal.
The midfielder's stock continues to rise following his remarkable performances in the Premier League for the Foxes. The 2019 Nigeria Footballer of the Year is regarded as one of the world's best players in his position.
And Pinnick is glad to point out that the midfield enforcer is one of the few who consistently manage to replicate their club form for country.
“I don’t joke with (Wilfred) Ndidi. The same way he plays for Leicester City is the same way he plays for the Eagles. That is patriotism,” Pinnick told Sports Extra.
“We’ve seen players who play for the national team protecting their legs when they play for the Eagles but give all to their clubs.
“However, we are happy with the crop of players in the Eagles today because they give their all.”
The Super Eagles return to competitive action in March when they host Sierra Leone in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
