“A little bit more than Ndidi”- Ajibola’s trainer reflects on the Golden Eaglet’s playing style

Wilfred Ndidi, who presently represents Leicester City, is renowned for his defensive ability

Founder of Tripple 44 FA, Olatunji Okuku, has likened Golden Eaglets star, Usman Owoyemi Ajibola, to Leicester City star, Wilfred Ndidi, Soccernet.ng reports.

According to the trainer, the starlet, who has been impressive for Nduka Ugbade’s boys at the 2023 Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations tournament, is the sort of player the Nigerian national team has been without for a very long time.

However, Olatunji indicated that his style is comparable with that of the former KRC Genk star owing to his skills in tight spaces, but Ajibola’s style is a little more than Ndidi.

Legendary Super Eagles player Sunday Oliseh has stated that Ndidi serves as an imitation of him due to the way he controls both the Foxes’ and the Super Eagles’ midfield.

Ndidi’s on-field performance may also be compared to that of a skilled midfielder who makes interceptions, wins tackles, and avoids fouling any players.

Ajibola, who has the same skills, is one of those players that the national team of all age categories has not had in a long time, according to Olatunji, in a chat with soccernet.ng.

“Talking about Ajibola, he’s that player that has some similarities with Ndidi, but a little more in terms of technical ability and their abilities in tight spaces. Ajibola is technically gifted and very good in tight spaces,” he said.

Oliseh previously said that he would prefer N’Golo Kante over Nigeria’s Ndidi owing to the defensive midfielder’s ability to interfere with any player attempting to penetrate his team’s defence.

In contrast, Olatunji said Ajibola is always coming from the blindside of the opponent to retrieve the ball, especially during a counter-pressing, much as he did Nigeria in previous AFCON matches against Zambia, Morocco, and South Africa.

He added: “He doesn’t slide as well. He stays on his feet always. Aside from that, he’s always coming from the blindside of opponents to recover the ball, something N’Golo Kante is very good at.”

Coupled with his 47 Super Eagles appearances, Ndidi has also won the FA Cup and the Community Shield with Leicester. The young player has yet to reach Ndidi’s level of success in football, according to Ajibola’s tutor, but he believes the kid has what it takes to compete in the best European leagues.

“He breaks the like very easily as well with his quick one or two-touch passes. Of course, it will be careless to compare him with Ndidi, given what he has achieved in football, but I have no doubt that jibola has the ability to play for one of the top five leagues in the world.” he said.

The soon-to-be 17-year-old prodigy, though, is said to have made a positive impact in his first few games in Algeria. He will be looking to build on that performance when Nigeria plays Burkina Faso on Thursday.