Mikel Obi, Wilfred Ndidi comparison sparks Twitter debate

A comparison between Nigerian and Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and former Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi has sparked a debate among football fans on social media.

The comparison was prompted by Ndidi’s performance and contribution to Leicester’s 5-0 thrashing of Newcastle United on Sunday in the English Premier League.

The Nigerian scored the fifth goal and displayed an impressive performance for the English club.

Football fans who were obviously impressed by Ndidi’s outing over the weekend took to Twitter to shower accolades on the player, and then they took it a notch higher by comparing him to Mikel, saying he is a better midfielder than the former Chelsea player.

Peeved by the comparison, other football fans shared clips of Mikel’s days at Chelsea where he won the UEFA Champions League, EPL title, FA Cups, Carling cups.

They also shared video clips of his days in the Nigeria youth team where he was rated one of the best young players alongside Lionel Messi following his performance in the FIFA U20 World Cup in Netherlands 2005.

A Twitter user Nomso tweeted:

“Mikel was the 2nd best player in the World under 20, had Man Utd & Chelsea on strings for his Signature, changed from AM to DM & still Played well while winning EPL’s & UCL for Chelsea & winning the Nations Cup for Nigeria. You can Praise Ndidi but don’t disrespect Mikel.”

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Ephraim Onos wrote:

“MIKEL Survived a Midfield Competition of Ballack, Deco, Belletti, Lampard, Essien, Makalele, Won EPL, FA Cup, Carling Cup, UCL, AFCON. He may not be your Favourite but don’t disrespect this Man”

Adedamola tweeted:

“Ndidi is a Ball winning midfielder unlike Mikel that does more of deep playing in the midfield Their roles on the pitch are different. Choosing who is better depends on the team style of play.”

See some of the reactions:

This comparison between Mikel and Ndidi is seriously uncalled for and a disrespect to Mikel. Mikel was the 2nd best young player in the world only after Messi, Mikel was voted the best ball passer in chelsea for 3 seasons. Even Ndidi will not be happy with such comparison.

— (R.I.P) STANLEY NWABIA 🇳🇬 (@mr_iykelopez) September 30, 2019

The irrational tweeps disrespecting Mikel by comparing him with Ndidi didn’t see his amazing performances in Holland 2005, UCL 2012, Europa 2013 South Africa 2013, Confed Cup 2013, London 2016 Olympics, and 2018 WC Qualifiers

Please put some respect on that name Mikel! pic.twitter.com/Xc79ULAmz9

— Milista of Informashun ❁ (@EkeVanVictor) September 30, 2019

Ndidi is far better than Mikel.
Henderson over Iniesta.
Rashford will bench Mbappe any day.
Lingard is the best player in the world.

Since today everybody has decided to be mad!

— Omoniyi Israel (@_omoissy) September 30, 2019

Yes, Ndidi is better than Mikel and also Samuel Chukwueze is better than Okocha since we’ve all decided to be mad.😏

— Ogbeni Zee (@TheZeeblizz) September 30, 2019

Ndidi is a Ball winning midfielder unlike Mikel that does more of deep playing in the midfield

Their roles on the pitch are different. Choosing who is better depends on the team style of play.

But since we all want to mad, Chukueze is better than Okocha then

— 𝙖𝙙𝙚𝘿𝘼𝙈𝙊𝙇𝘼™ (@da_moxy) September 30, 2019

MIKEL Survived a Midfield Competion of Ballack, Deco, Belletti, Lampard, Essien, Makalele, Won EPL, FA Cup, Carling Cup, UCL, AFCON.
He may not be your Favourite but don’t disrespect this Man pic.twitter.com/eLV29ndRC5

— £PHramite✌🏾 (@EphraimOnos) September 30, 2019

Mikel was the 2nd best player in the World under 20, had Man Utd & Chelsea on strings for his Signature, changed from AM to DM & still Played well while winning EPL’s & UCL for Chelsea & winning the Nations Cup for Nigeria.

You can Praise Ndidi but don’t disrespect Mikel 🙄😑

— King Nonny 👑 (@Zaddy_nomso) September 30, 2019

I don’t blame those comparing Ndidi to Mikel, not their fault they only started watching EPL full time when Mikel was past his prime.
While Ndidi might possess more of a goal threat than Mikel, which to me is probably the only he will have going against Mikel. pic.twitter.com/tkhwCVNbYe

— BabatundeTalkSport (@AtolagbeBO) September 30, 2019

During nations cup I said NDIDI is 3x better than Kante,

people disrespecting NDIDI by comparing him to Mikel,He has being consistent for both club & country for years now.

With NDIDI’S form if he is playing for European country he will be rated higher than pogba & kante.

— QUDUS (@QdPaper) September 30, 2019

Ndidi better than Mikel??
So it’s safe to say
Onuachu is better than Kanu
Chukwueze is better than Okocha
Akpeyi is better than Enyeama
And Omeruo is better than Yobo too??

What Mikel has achieved in his first 3 seasons at Chelsea, Ndidi can’t in his entire career. Periodt!

— Duke of Ibadan. (@AsiwajuLerry) September 30, 2019