Nigeria international Wilfred Ndidi has praised Besiktas supporters after making his debut in the Turkish Super Lig, helping his new club to a 2-1 victory over Eyupspor on Sunday.
Ndidi, who joined the Istanbul giants this summer, featured for 70 minutes and highlighted the influence of the fans in pushing the team to secure all three points.
“The atmosphere was great. The support from our fans throughout the match was great,” the midfielder told the club’s website.
Besiktas took an early lead through Tammy Abraham’s penalty, before Mame Baba Thiam equalised for Eyupspor. Ndidi explained that the team’s resilience, combined with the crowd’s energy, proved decisive in finding a late winner.
“After the match was 1-1, we pushed hard and showed team spirit. We did our best to find the second goal. With this request, our fans also became a driving force for us. It’s been a nice day,” he said.
The 27-year-old delivered a solid debut performance, completing 31 passes and making two clearances. He added that adapting to his manager’s instructions and linking up with quality teammates made the transition smoother.
“I know what our coach wants from me. I can say that my job has become easier with the quality of our players in front. After playing the way our coach wanted, things became easier for us,” Ndidi noted.
Besiktas sealed the win dramatically, with Rafa Silva netting in the 96th minute after the team registered 18 shots and dominated possession.
Ndidi will next be in action on Thursday when Besiktas face Lausanne in the first leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League final qualifying round.