The question of who should captain the Super Eagles heading into AFCON has been a major talking point following the retirement of William Troost-Ekong and long-serving skipper Ahmed Musa. With leadership suddenly up for grabs, Nigeria were left needing clarity just weeks before the tournament.
That clarity has now arrived, with Wilfred Ndidi officially named as the new Super Eagles captain ahead of AFCON in Morocco.
Speaking to Bet9ja, former AFCON winner and Super Eagles legend Victor Ikpeba played down the idea that captaincy alone defines a national team, insisting leadership should run deeper than an armband.
“It’s not something that defines the national team,” Ikpeba said. “What defines the national team is whether you qualify for major tournaments. And someone has to be the captain of the national team.”
Ikpeba believes experience and shared responsibility are just as important as having a single figurehead, especially in tournament football.
“In some ways you want to have 20 captains playing for the national team,” he added. “The top players, they know why they are there, and you always fall back to the experienced players in the national team to be captains.”
Wilfred Ndidi has been named Captain of the Super Eagles and says the responsibility means everything as Nigeria head to Morocco.#AFCON2025 #Naija4TheWin pic.twitter.com/S0jkgjPH5q
— ?? Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) December 19, 2025
Why Ndidi Makes Sense
While debate around the role has been lively, Ikpeba made it clear he believes Ndidi is a deserving choice. The former Leicester City midfielder has been a fixture in the Super Eagles setup for over a decade and is widely respected both on and off the pitch.
“I personally believe Ndidi deserves to be the captain,” Ikpeba said. “He’s been there for a very long time. He’s a good young man, very disciplined, carries himself with dignity. You don’t really hear stories about him.”
For Ikpeba, those qualities matter just as much as performance levels.
“He’s been in the national team for over 10 years now,” he continued. “So I think he deserves to be the captain. He has the leadership quality required to be the captain of any national team.”
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The Osimhen Debate
Ikpeba’s comments come against the backdrop of wider discussion around Victor Osimhen’s leadership credentials, with former Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo publicly backing the Galatasaray forward for the role. Osimhen’s relentless intensity and visible passion have made him a fan favourite and a natural leader in the eyes of many.
Ikpeba acknowledged that argument and was clear that Osimhen’s qualities should not be dismissed.
“Don’t take it away that giving the captaincy to Osimhen would be fantastic,” Ikpeba said. “Osimhen gives 200% whenever he plays for the national team.”
He added that Osimhen’s commitment resonates strongly with supporters.
“If it was given to Osimhen, the fans back in Nigeria would be very proud because we see his commitment. That should be an example to anyone in the national team.”
Rather than framing it as a strict choice between the two, Ikpeba suggested a more flexible approach.
“I would personally go for a situation that both of them should be captains,” he said. “It has happened in international football. Sometimes you have one or two, and they can swap it once in a while. If one is not playing, the other will be the captain.”
As the Super Eagles prepare for AFCON in Morocco, Ikpeba believes what matters most is leadership across the squad, not just who wears the armband.
“You need a huge personality to be the captain of any team,” he concluded. “But especially with the Super Eagles.”
