Besiktas JK have provided a medical update on the health status of Nigerian midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, who captained the Super Eagles at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, Soccernet.ng reports.
Nigeria’s hopes of ending the 2025 AFCON on a high were dealt a quiet blow when captain Ndidi was left out of the starting line-up for the third-place playoff against Egypt.
Ndidi, 29, had been expected to return after missing the semi-final defeat to hosts Morocco through suspension. But while Raphael Onyedika once again started in midfield, the Super Eagles’ captain remained on the bench and did not feature at all in the goalless draw that Nigeria eventually won on penalties.
The Turkish Super Lig club have now confirmed that Ndidi failed to recover from an injury he sustained earlier in the tournament and has returned to Istanbul for treatment.
Beşiktaş announced that Wilfred Ndidi has been diagnosed with a strain and bleeding in the hamstring muscle of his left thigh, and that his treatment has begun.
In a detailed medical update, the black-and-white club said:
“Our player Wilfred Ndidi, who was unable to continue playing in the 70th minute of Nigeria's Africa Cup of Nations match against Algeria due to pain in his left hamstring, has been diagnosed with a strain and bleeding in his biceps femoris muscle following an MRI performed by the Nigerian national team's medical staff.”
The statement added that Ndidi’s treatment process has begun, but Besiktas did not reveal how long the midfielder will be sidelined.
Ndidi sustained the injury in Nigeria’s quarter-final victory over Algeria. He was then suspended for the semi-final defeat to Morocco and, despite hopes he would return for the third-place playoff, was deemed not fit enough to play against Egypt.
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Captain Wilfred Ndidi's message after AFCON heartbreak
Despite the disappointment of missing the final two games, Ndidi was widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s standout performers at AFCON 2025. The Super Eagles won every match he featured in, and he even scored his first international goal in the dramatic 3-2 group-stage victory over Tunisia.
Nigeria eventually finished third in Morocco, while Senegal defeated the hosts 1-0 in the final to be crowned African champions. It was a campaign that had promised much, especially after the Super Eagles arrived at the tournament determined to make amends for failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
In the aftermath of the tournament, Ndidi sent an emotional message to Nigerians, thanking them for their support and promising that the team will return stronger.
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He wrote: “Dear NIGERIANS,
“As we conclude this tournament, I want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support. Finishing third is not what we aimed for, but unfortunately, our best was not good enough this time but yet, we are still proud of the efforts of the Team and the love from the Fans.
“As the proud Captain of this Team, I’ll like to thank you all for your encouragement has been invaluable to us every step of the way.
“Your cheers and presence in the stands and at Home fueled our passion and determination. We felt your energy, and it pushed us to give our best on the field. We may not have taken home the trophy this time, but your belief in us means everything.
“We are committed to learning from this experience and coming back stronger next time.
“To the Fans, thank you for being the incredible fans that you are.
“To the Team, don’t rest in your laurels.
“Together, we will rise to new challenges and strive for greatness.
“🦅 SOAR EAGLES, SOAR!!! 🦅”
For now, Nigeria’s captain begins another recovery race, this time back in Turkey, as both club and country wait to see when one of the Super Eagles’ most influential players will be fully fit again.
