Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi has been thrown into mourning following the death of his father, Sunday Ndidi, who reportedly died in a road accident on Tuesday.
The late Sunday Ndidi, a retired military officer, was involved in a traffic crash in Umunede, Delta State. He was rushed to a hospital in nearby Agbor, where he was later confirmed dead.
Ndidi’s club side, Besiktas, confirmed the tragic loss 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.”
The sad development comes months after Ndidi captained Nigeria to a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, a tournament that also saw him score his first international goal for the Super Eagles.
While celebrating his headed goal against Tunisia in Nigeria’s second group match, the midfielder paid an emotional tribute to his father, drawing inspiration from his admiration for former Super Eagles 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.”
