Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi has lost his father, Sunday Ndidi, who died on Tuesday following a road accident.
It was reported that the retired military officer was involved in an accident in Umunede, Delta State, and was confirmed dead after being rushed to a hospital in Agbor.
Ndidi’s club, Besiktas, confirmed the incident in a statement released on Tuesday via its 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.”
Ndidi 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.
During the tournament, Ndidi dedicated his headed goal against Tunisia in Nigeria’s second group match to his father, drawing inspiration from 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.” Ndidi, who has often spoken about growing up with his father in the military barracks, was born and raised in Lagos.
