Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi has been thrown into mourning following the death of his father, Sunday Ndidi, who died on Tuesday after a fatal road accident in Delta State.
The deceased, a retired military officer, was involved in a traffic accident in Umunede and was rushed to a hospital in Agbor, where he was later pronounced dead.
Ndidi’s Turkish club, Beşiktaş, confirmed the tragedy in a statement shared on its official X account, describing the incident as deeply painful.
“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, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to Wilfred Ndidi, his family, and loved ones.”
The loss comes just weeks after Ndidi led Nigeria to a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. The midfielder also scored his first-ever international goal during the tournament.
Ndidi’s goal, a header against Tunisia in Nigeria’s second group game, was followed by a celebration inspired by former Super Eagles captain Kanu Nwankwo. At the time, Ndidi explained that the gesture was a tribute to his father, who greatly admired the Nigerian football legend.
“The celebration came from my dad because he was always talking about Kanu Nwankwo,” Ndidi said in Morocco.
“So when I scored, I just thought about my dad and decided to do it for him.”
Born and raised in Lagos, Ndidi has often spoken about his upbringing in military barracks and the influence of his father on his discipline and values.
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