Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi is grieving the loss of his father, Sunday Ndidi, who died on Tuesday in a road accident in Umunede, Delta State.
The retired military officer was involved in a traffic crash and was rushed to a hospital in Agbor, where he was confirmed dead.
Ndidi’s club, Besiktas, confirmed the tragedy in a statement shared on their official X account.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic passing of our footballer Wilfred Ndidi’s esteemed father, Sunday Ndidi, in a fatal traffic accident,” the club said. “May Allah grant mercy to the deceased; we extend our condolences to our footballer Wilfred Ndidi, his family, and loved ones.”
The 27-year-old midfielder recently captained Nigeria to a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where he also scored his first international goal for the Super Eagles.
Ndidi’s goal celebration against Tunisia was a personal tribute to his father and a nod to his admiration for former Nigeria captain Kanu Nwankwo.
“The celebration came from my dad because he was always talking about Kanu Nwankwo,” Ndidi told journalists in Morocco. “So I just thought about my dad. I had seen the video before, but it came to my head, and I said I was going to do it for my dad.”
About the Author
