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Super Eagles star Wilfred Ndidi has revealed that their first-half red card against Fenerbahce led to their defeat. Besiktas suffered a 3-2 loss to Fenerbahce in a dramatic Istanbul derby on Sunday, despite his team initially holding a two-goal advantage. The Black Eagles looked set for a comfortable victory at Besiktas Park after early goals from El Bilal Touré and Emirhan Topcu gave them a commanding lead. However, the complexion of the match changed entirely in the 25th minute when Orkun Kökçü was sent off after a VAR review upgraded his initial yellow card to a red, with Fenerbahce seizing the opportunity and mounting a stunning comeback. Ndidi speaks on defeat Reflecting on the result, Ndidi acknowledged that the dismissal shifted the game's momentum entirely. "The match was going well for us. We even took a 2-0 lead," Ndidi told beIN Sports. "When we conceded a goal after the red card, the opponent gained momentum." Despite the loss, the Nigerian international emphasised the need for his team to remain positive and united. "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." İsmail Yüksek began the revival in the 32nd minute, before Marco Asensio equalised in first-half stoppage time. The comeback was completed when Jhon Duran scored the winning goal in the 83rd minute, securing all three points for the visitors.
