Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi has lost his father, Sunday Ndidi, who reportedly died on Tuesday following a road accident, PUNCH Online reports.
The late Sunday Ndidi, a retired military officer, was said to have been involved in a fatal accident in Umunede, Delta State. He was rushed to a hospital in Agbor, also in Delta State, where he was confirmed dead.
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.”
The tragic loss comes shortly after Ndidi captained Nigeria to a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. During the tournament, the midfielder also scored his first international goal for the Super Eagles.
While celebrating his headed goal against Tunisia in Nigeria’s second group match, Ndidi made an emotional reference to his late father and 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.”
Ndidi has often spoken about growing up with his father in the barracks. He was born and raised in Lagos, where his father played a significant role in shaping his early life and football journey.
Tributes have continued to pour in from fans, teammates, and the wider Nigerian football community following the news of the loss.
