Ndidi blames red card as Besiktas collapse against Fenerbahce
Wilfred Ndidi has blamed Besiktas’ 3-2 defeat to Fenerbahce in Sunday’s fiery Istanbul derby on the early red card that left the team playing with ten men for over an hour.
The Black Eagles appeared to be in full control at Besiktas Park after goals from El Bilal Touré and Emirhan Topcu put them 2-0 ahead.
Turning point: Kökçü’s dismissal
The momentum shifted dramatically in the 25th minute when Orkun Kökçü’s yellow card for a foul on Alvarez was upgraded to a red following a VAR review by referee Ali Yılmaz.
Fenerbahce capitalized almost immediately, as İsmail Yüksek halved the deficit before Marco Asensio equalized in first-half stoppage time.
Fenerbahce complete comeback
With Besiktas struggling to cope a man down, Jhon Duran sealed the comeback with an 83rd-minute strike to hand Fenerbahce all three points.
Ndidi: “We even took a 2-0 lead”
Reflecting on the loss, Ndidi admitted the sending-off was the game’s decisive moment.
“The match was going well for us. We even took a 2-0 lead. When we conceded a goal after the red card, the opponent gained momentum,” he told beIN Sports.
The Nigerian midfielder urged his teammates to remain united, adding: “We wanted to stay in the match. We had a fighting spirit. We need to build on that a little more. We know we have quality. We must all stay united.”
Ndidi is expected to feature for the Super Eagles on November 13, when Nigeria face Gabon in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying playoffs.
