Nigerian midfielder Wilfred Ndidi reflects on Leicester’s relegation, Vardy’s legacy, and his top African players in the Premier League.
It’s been a Premier League season to forget for Leicester City. Relegation has been confirmed, but midfielder Wilfred Ndidi insists the Foxes remain focused on ending the campaign positively. In an honest interview, the Nigerian international opened up about the struggles of the season, his admiration for Jamie Vardy, and hopes for the future.
The biggest headline at the King Power surrounds the impending departure of Vardy, a player widely seen as one of the greatest strikers in Premier League history. For Ndidi, sharing a dressing room with the veteran forward has been nothing short of a privilege.
“It’s been an honour. It’s been a pleasure to be a teammate with Jamie Vardy,” Ndidi said. “Even after football, you’d be like, ‘Oh, I played with Jamie Vardy.’ He’s been amazing for years—an amazing guy, family man, mentally strong. I think he’s one of the strongest guys I’ve seen mentally.”
Ndidi describes Vardy’s influence as both profound and entertaining. “The way he is on camera, he’s the same guy off it. You have to be on your toes when he’s around. He might scare you or something when you drop your guard. He’s really annoying in a good way—keeps the whole mood alive.”
Vardy’s efforts to bond with teammates, including attempting to speak Nigerian Pidgin, only strengthened his presence within the squad. “He tries to imitate things and make it fun. Even learning Pidgin—he uses it around us. He’s a great guy.”
Reflecting on Leicester’s fall from the top flight, Ndidi didn’t shy away from identifying issues that hurt their campaign.
“I feel like we gave up too quick when it comes to games,” he admitted. “As soon as we concede one goal, the heads go down. That shouldn’t happen. Going forward, we need to fix that.”
Despite the disappointment, there were personal highlights. For Ndidi, one game stood out.
“The Crystal Palace game away. We drew 2-2 and I got two assists,” he recalled. “I was muted the whole game. I didn’t speak to anyone. I was going through some things, but then I went into the game and got two assists. That was a good game.”
On the broader Premier League season, Ndidi had praise for Leicester’s East Midlands rivals. “I would say Nottingham Forest. They just stick to the basics—get the goals, defend. That’s what they need and they do it.”
When asked about individual battles, Ndidi pointed to Wolves’ Brazilian forward as the toughest challenge he faced. “I’ll just say the last game against Wolves—Matheus Cunha. He’s a good player. He was everywhere, doing his thing.”
From a tactical standpoint, one team stood head and shoulders above the rest.
“Manchester City away. It was a difficult game. We tried as much as we could to get close to the ball, but we were not getting the balls. They were moving it really fast and their positioning was great.”
Looking ahead, Ndidi confirmed that Leicester’s focus is fixed on an immediate return to the Premier League, but warned that lessons must be taken seriously.
“Of course. But first, we have to learn from this. If we don’t learn from this, we’re just wasting our time.”
Ndidi also reflected on working under manager Ruvan Iskander, who has come under pressure during the difficult campaign.
“He’s been a great manager. He’s been amazing. Yeah, things didn’t work out, but I would say he felt alone. When he first came, the expectation was high. And when the results were not going our way, there was no backing. I feel like they should have given him more time. But he’s an amazing guy. He interacts with everyone freely.”
On the international front, Ndidi is looking forward to linking up with Nigeria for the Africa Cup of Nations, though qualification for the World Cup remains the immediate priority.
“It’s a privilege to represent Nigeria. It’s an honour. Once you’re called up, it’s a goosebumps kind of feeling. The national team games—it’s one thing where your family back home are really proud. But we’re focusing on trying to qualify for the World Cup first. That’s the most important thing right now.”
Ndidi also named three African players who have stood out for him this season. “Ola Aina, Mo Salah, and Alex Iwobi. Not just because he’s Nigerian. He has great character. He’s that guy with zero problems—just trying to solve people’s problems with his own way of vibes. He’s also one of the fastest players I’ve seen. He doesn’t look it, but he is.”
As Leicester’s season draws to a close, Ndidi’s words paint a picture of a squad grappling with hard truths, but still holding onto belief. The departure of Jamie Vardy will mark the end of an era, but for players like Ndidi, the journey isn’t over—it’s only changing course.
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Photo: Michael Regan/Getty Images
