Football
Exclusive: Olisa Ndah Targets Premier Soccer League title with On-Form Orlando Pirates
Olisa Ndah's rise to prominence in 2024 as a key defender for Orlando Pirates and the Super Eagles has been remarkable. With strong performances in the South African Premier League and national team, he sets his sights on winning the league in 2025 and CAF Champions League. An exciting player to watch in the coming year.
PHILL MAGAKOE/AFP via Getty Images.
As the 2024 football year draws to a close, Olisa Ndah, the Orlando Pirates and Super Eagles defender, can look back on a year that has seen him establish himself as one of the top players in the South African Premier League.
In an exclusive interview with SportsBoom.com, Ndah reflected on his best moments of the year, his experiences with the Super Eagles, and his club ambitions for 2025.
The defender made his home debut last September against Benin Republic in Nigeria’s 2-0 win at the Godswill Akpabio’s Stadium, where he had a decent game and a clean sheet.
The last time Ndah played at home was in May 2022 during the CAF Confederations Cup final between Orlando Pirates and RS Berkane; it ended in a defeat for the South African side.
Ndah's rise to prominence has been nothing short of remarkable. The 26-year-old defender has been a mainstay in the Orlando Pirates team, helping the club to challenge for the league title.
His performances have not gone unnoticed, earning him a call-up to the Super Eagles and a place in the starting lineup. For many fans following his progress, the excitement of Nigerian football extends beyond the pitch, with many engaging in sports betting online to add another layer of thrill to the games. In the year 2024, Orlando Pirates played 22 games, scored 49 goals, conceded 19, won 15 games, drew four, and lost only twice.
They also presented two trophies, of which Olisa Ndah was an integral part in the success of the Buccaneers. For Ndah, playing for the Super Eagles has been a dream come true. For those looking to get involved in the action, many bet sites with welcome bonus offers can provide a great starting point to explore the world of online wagering.
"It's one of the best things that happened to me this year," he told SportsBoom.com. "I would like to say that because it's not often you get called up to the Super Eagles. Anytime I get called up to the Eagles, I'm always excited about it."
Ndah's excitement is understandable. Playing for the Super Eagles is the pinnacle of Nigerian football, and the defender feels privileged to be a part of the team. "I'm always excited to be with the Super Eagles, either I'm playing or I'm not playing, I still support the team and talk to my guys," he said.
Ndah's experiences with the Super Eagles have been nothing short of iconic. He made his debut for the team in 2022 and has since become a regular member of the squad. His performances for the team have been impressive, earning him praise from fans and pundits alike.
But Ndah's success is not limited to his performances for the Super Eagles. He has also been instrumental in Orlando Pirates' challenge for the league title. The defender has made 20 appearances for the club in the 2024 season, helping them to keep 10 clean sheets and concede just 15 goals.
Ndah's stats are impressive, and he is clearly one of the top defenders in the South African Premier League. But despite his success, the defender remains humble and focused on his goals.
"I think this is just the beginning," he said. "There's still a lot of games to go, we are still in December also. I'm optimistic about us winning the league, but right now, we are just focused on winning this game and taking it one game at a time."
The next target is to win the South African league
Ndah's ambition is clear, and he is determined to help Orlando Pirates win the league title. But he also looks beyond the 2024 season, setting his sights on even greater success in 2025.
Having won the FA Cup title with Orlando Pirates for the third consecutive time last season, the Buccaneers defender said winning the league in 2025 is his next major focus. Currently, Pirates are second on the PSL table with 24 points from nine games played. They have lost once so far this season against Stellenbosch.
"Thoughts ahead of 2025; it's obviously to retain our title and also win the CAF Champions League," he said. "That will be a very defining moment for me in 2025. I am looking forward to it, and I have had the feeling of winning a couple of cups here. I don't know what it feels like to win a league here. I won the league back in Nigeria, so I know the feelings; it's different."
Ndah's desire to win the CAF Champions League is understandable. The competition is the premier club competition in African football, and winning it would be a major achievement for Orlando Pirates and Ndah.
Meanwhile, the Buccaneers are close-tight, two points behind Egypt's powerhouse, Al Ahly, in the CAF Champions League. As the 2024 football year draws to a close, Olisa Ndah can look back on a year that has seen him establish himself as one of the top players in the South African Premier League.
His performances for Orlando Pirates and the Super Eagles have been impressive, and he is a player on the rise. With his sights set on even greater success in 2025, Ndah is determined to continue working hard and pushing himself to be the best player he can be.
As he looks to the future, one thing is clear: Olisa Ndah is a player to watch.
Jeremiah Omoniyi is a developmental sports Journalist with over five years of experience writing about grassroots and international football and sporting events. Jeremiah’s forte in sports journalism are feature writing and interviews which he has done to a reasonable amount within his home country, Nigeria.