Nigeria’s Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi has returned to Istanbul to resume training with Beşiktaş JK after attending the burial of his father in his home country. The elder Ndidi, a former military man, tragically lost his life in a vehicular accident in Delta State last month and was laid to rest in Agbor last Friday. His return provides a significant boost to the “Black Eagles” as they prepare for a critical top-four battle in the Turkish Süper Lig.
The 29-year-old midfielder missed his side’s narrow 3-2 victory over İstanbul Başakşehir last weekend but now enters contention for Sunday’s home fixture at the Tüpraş Stadyumu. Ndidi has established himself as a regular in the starting eleven this season, contributing one goal in 16 league outings since his high-profile arrival from Leicester City. His physical presence in the holding midfield role will be vital as Beşiktaş aims to leapfrog their direct rivals in the standings.
Currently, Beşiktaş occupies fifth place with 40 points from 22 matches, trailing Sunday’s opponents, Goztepe, by just a single point. A victory on home soil would see the Istanbul giants move into the European qualification spots. Head coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst welcomed the Nigerian international back to the training ground this week, where the squad focused on tactical drills to contain a high-flying Goztepe side that currently holds the fourth position.
The match kicks off at 5:00 PM local time on Sunday, February 22, 2026. Supporters expect a sell-out crowd at the Tüpraş Stadyumu to welcome back their star midfielder and cheer the team toward a fourth consecutive league victory. With the title race heating up, Ndidi’s defensive discipline remains a key asset for a Beşiktaş defense that has struggled to keep clean sheets in recent weeks.
