Super Eagles midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi, has been named in the highly revered and authoritative France Football Magazine African Team of the Year for 2018.
Ndidi, who plays for English Premier League side, Leicester City is the only Nigerian player named in the squad.
The former Genk of Belgium star was eulogised by the popular magazine for his ball winning ability for Leicester City
“He is certainly not the most spectacular player of his selection or even Leicester. But in his record, the former defensive midfielder Genk has also settled in the midfield and statistics in the Premier League are exceptional, both in terms of tackles than balls recovered. As such, the young Nigerian was named by the CAF among the best hopes of the year. At 21, his club has extended it (his contract) until 2024 but he is not sure he has totally secured his super middle.” the magazine stated.
Ndidi is paired in midfield along with Atletico Madrid and Black Stars of Ghana star, Thomas Partey and Hakim Ziyech of Morocco.
Senegal’s Saido Mane and Egypt forward, Mohamed Salah are the two other England based players in the squad.
FRANCE FOOTBALL’S AFRICAN BEST XI OF 2018:
Goalkeeper Andre Onana – Cameroon, Ajax
Defenders Yousef Atal – Algeria, Nice Kalidou Koulibaly – Senegal, Napoli Manu Da Costa – Morocco, Istanbul Achraf Hakimi – Morocco, Dortmund
Midfielders Thomas Partey – Ghana, Atletico Madrid Wilfred Ndidi – Nigeria, Leicester City Hakim Ziyech – Morocco, Ajax
Forwards Riyad Mahrez – Algeria, Man City Sadio Mane – Senegal, Liverpool Mohamed Salah – Egypt, Liverpool
SUBSTITUTES: Samatta (Tanzania, Genk), Gana Gueye (Sénégal, Everton), Pépé (Côte d’Ivoire, Lille), Aubameyang (Gabon, Arsenal), Bounou (Morocco, Girona), Badri (Tunisia, Espérance), Toko Ekambi (Cameroon, Villarreal).