Wilfred Ndidi has acknowledged the significant gap left in the Super Eagles squad following former captain William Troost-Ekong’s retirement from international football.

Ndidi, who was officially named Nigeria’s new captain on Tuesday, succeeding Troost-Ekong, described his predecessor as a strong voice whose leadership shaped the team both on and off the field.

“Troost-Ekong stands for the Nigeria team. I admire him a lot and the way he speaks his mind,” Ndidi told the Super Eagles media team. “Everyone in the squad looks up to him. I’ve learned a lot from him. We also spoke a couple of weeks ago, so I feel like he is still part of the team, and he will definitely be missed.”

Troost-Ekong, formerly of Watford, captained Nigeria through numerous major tournaments and was widely regarded as a unifying presence in the dressing room.

Meanwhile, winger Moses Simon expressed disappointment over the absence of defender Benjamin Fredrick from Nigeria’s squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Fredrick was sidelined due to injury, ending his hopes of participating in the tournament.

In an interview with ESPN, Simon reflected on the impact of Fredrick’s absence. “It’s very emotional for me,” he said. “Playing alongside young players you’ve helped rise is an unbelievable feeling. I’m sad that Fredrick won’t be here in Morocco because he would have been a big help to the team.”