Super Eagles captain, Wilfred Ndidi, has lost his father, Sunday Ndidi, who died on Tuesday following a fatal road accident, according to reports.
The deceased, a retired military officer, was reportedly involved in a traffic accident in Umunede, Delta State. He was rushed to a hospital in Agbor, also in Delta State, where he was later confirmed dead.
Ndidi’s club side, Turkish giants Besiktas, confirmed the tragic development on Tuesday in a statement released via the club’s official X (formerly Twitter) account. The club expressed deep sorrow over the loss and extended condolences to the Nigerian international and his family.
“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 statement read. “May Allah grant mercy to the deceased; we extend our condolences to our footballer Wilfred Ndidi, his family, and loved ones.”
Wilfred Ndidi recently captained Nigeria to a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations held in Morocco. The midfielder also scored his first international goal for the Super Eagles during the tournament, finding the net with a header in Nigeria’s second group-stage match against Tunisia.
While celebrating the goal, Ndidi made a gesture that later drew attention from fans and commentators. Speaking to journalists after the match, he revealed that the celebration was inspired by his 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 said. “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 publicly about his upbringing, revealing that he grew up with his father in the military barracks. Born and raised in Lagos, the Super Eagles captain has frequently credited his father for his discipline and resilience, both on and off the pitch.
The football community has continued to send messages of sympathy to Ndidi and his family following the tragic loss.
