‘Not as good as you think’ – Expert slams Super Eagles stars as Ndidi joins Osimhen in Turkey

Wilfred Ndidi's recent transfer to Turkish giants Beşiktaş, joining fellow Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen in the Super Lig, has sparked a sharp critique from Nigerian football journalist and Pulse Sports managing editor, Joba Ogunwale.

Ndidi, 28, completed his medicals as reported by the club, and is set to sign a lucrative three-year contract, with an option for a fourth year, reportedly earning around €4 million per season as also reported by Soccernet.

The €9.5 million deal ended his seven-year stint in England, where he was regarded as a highly consistent Premier League defensive midfielder.

However, Ogunwale expressed frustration about the trend of Super Eagles players moving to leagues like Turkey’s, which contrasts with expectations for Nigerian talents aiming for Europe's elite competitions.

Speaking on X (formerly Twitter), he delivered a blunt verdict: “There is something fundamentally wrong with our players. Again, I repeat, our players are not as good as many of you rate them.”

This pointed remark raises concerns that moves to leagues perceived as less competitive indicate a plateau or decline in the career trajectories of top Nigerian internationals, despite their national team status.

Ndidi’s transfer adds to the growing contingent of Nigerian stars in the Turkish Super Lig, with Victor Osimhen’s recent record-breaking signing at Galatasaray showing the league’s rising appeal for Super Eagles players.

Nonetheless, Ogunwale’s commentary challenges fans and stakeholders to reassess assumptions about the global standing and progress of Nigerian footballers, emphasising that star power alone doesn't guarantee movement to Europe's top leagues.

This critique invites a wider conversation about player development, scouting, and ambition within Nigerian football circles, questioning whether current pathways truly reflect the quality of Nigerian talent.

Ndidi’s move, while notable for its financial reward and career longevity, thus becomes a symbol of a broader debate on Nigerian players’ positioning on the international football stage.