Cooper: Ndidi mentally and psychologically ready to face Southampton after barbaric treatment in Libya

Leicester City head coach, Steve Cooper says Wilfred Ndidi is ready to make his eighth straight start in the Premier League this season when the Foxes visit the St. Mary’s Stadium to face winless Southampton.

Ndidi was in the Nigerian team held hostage by the Libyans for almost 20 hours on their way to honour the second leg of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying tie against the Mediterranean Knights of Libya.

Cooper revealed the Super Eagle is back at Leicester and trained ‘well’ ahead of the trip to Southampton.

‘He trained really well yesterday, I have to say, and that was pleasing to see. Maybe that was something he needed, a little bit of a release just to get back to normality.

‘We’ve checked in with him in every way that we should and he’s more than happy to get back to business as usual. He trained yesterday, will train today, and will be ready like everybody else for the game at the weekend,’ said Cooper at a press conference ahead of the game.

The Foxes boss also revealed they were monitoring the dehumanizing and barbaric behavior of the Libyans while it lasted. He said the club were in contact with Ndidi while he was stuck at the airport.

‘We were in close contact with him throughout the situation they found themselves in. He kept us updated. I know there was a bit of a wifi issue at times, so maybe it wasn’t as regular as anybody would have liked. Everyone was in contact, myself included, to make sure he was safe and well.

‘Fortunately, the situation they found themselves in was resolved and everybody got back safe. He was back with us pretty soon after and has trained since. Fortunately, he’s in a safe place, and that’s including the mental side of it as well.’