Mikel – Leicester City midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi is now Nigeria’s best defensive midfield export to the English Premier League, according to statistics.
The former RC Genk of Belgium star made four tackles in the Foxes’ 2-0 loss to Manchester City on Saturday to go three above former Chelsea star, Mikel Obi.
Prior to Saturday’s game at the King Power stadium, Mikel was leading Ndidi by just one tackle (538 to 539) but the Leicester City man who has played 111 games less (249 to 138 appearances) is now the Nigerian who has made the most tackles in the competition.
This is inspite of the fact that Mikel played for 10 seasons in the Premier League, clocking over 16,000 minutes of action (16,217) against Ndidi’s 11,879 minutes in about five seasons (fifth season still on-going).The former Chelsea man however has made more successful tackles than his successor in the Super Eagles as he had 78% success rate in the 539 tackles he made while Ndidi boasts of a 62% success rate.
Ndidi is also ahead of his former national team captain in blocked shots (42 to 36) while Mikel has had more recoveries (1,447 to 1,158),more interceptions (374 to 294),more successful 50/50s (136 to 112) and has made more errors leading to goal (2 to 1)
Mikel has understandably won 149 Premier League games in 249 appearances than Ndidi who has featured in 138 games and has won just 62 of the games. Mikel has also lost more games (47) but the Foxes star is closing in on that number as he has lost 41 times.
Ndidi has however scored more despite playing over a 100 games less. The 24 year old has scored seven goals so far while Mikel,33,has scored just once which came way back in 2013 when he scored Chelsea’s second goal in the 2-0 defeat of Fulham at Stamford Bridge. The former Eagles captain has however bagged more assists (10 to Ndidi’s eight).