Ndidi Questions Olaitan's Choice of Benin Over Nigeria

Wilfred Ndidi, the captain of the Super Eagles, confirmed that he asked his Besiktas teammate Junior Olaitan about his decision to represent the Benin Republic instead of Nigeria. Junior Olaitan, born in Porto-Novo to a Nigerian father and a Beninese mother and raised in Lagos, was eligible to play for either nation.

He opted to represent Benin, making his debut for the Cheetahs in 2021, prior to Ndidi discussing the matter with him. When they became teammates in the summer of 2026, Ndidi expressed his curiosity in an interview, revealing a private conversation between the two players.

Initially, Ndidi felt that a player of Olaitan's caliber should have waited for a Super Eagles call-up; however, after hearing Olaitan's perspective, he gained a better understanding of the situation. Olaitan has become a significant player for Benin under coach Gernot Rohr.

The Cheetahs are set to face Mauritania and Burkina Faso in the upcoming 2027 Cup of Nations qualifiers, with Olaitan expected to play a key role.