'He was so strong' — Super Eagles Wilfred Ndidi names former Chelsea star as most difficult opponent

Wilfred Ndidi captained the Super Eagles against South Africa and Benin Republic || IMAGO

'He was so strong' — Super Eagles Wilfred Ndidi names former Chelsea star as most difficult opponent

Faruq Ibrahim 21:04 - 09.11.2024

Nigerian national team midfielder Wilfred Ndidi named the toughest opponent he has faced in his career.

Super Eagles ace Wilfred Ndidi has named Chelsea legend Eden Hazard as the most difficult opponent he has faced in his career. 

The 28-year-old is a Premier League veteran, having played seven seasons in the division and currently on his eight. Hence, he faced the diminutive Belgian during his prime years at Chelsea before he left for Real Madrid. 

What Ndidi said 

While he is now deployed in more advanced roles, playing as a central midfielder and registering assists, Ndidi used to be the quintessential Premier League destroyer, providing a mobile screen in front of the Leicester defence. 

Hence, he was tasked with cancelling out the opposition's more creative players, especially those operating in and around the hole. So when the Foxes faced Chelsea armed with Hazard's bag of tricks at the time, Ndidi had to keep an eye on him, and according to a recent confession he made on the Premier League's YouTube channel’s Uncut Show, those matchups with the Belgian were the toughest man-marking job he has ever had. 

Ndidi squaring up against Hazard \\ Image credit: Imago
Ndidi squaring up against Hazard \\ Image credit: Imago

“Eden Hazard. He’s so good. He was so strong and he was so sharp,” Ndidi answered when asked who his toughest ever opponent was. “

“When you’re getting close to him, he can just change direction and then changing direction. He’s so sharp; before you realise it, he’s gone.”