Sunday Ndidi, the father of Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi, passed away on Tuesday in a car accident. The former military officer was reportedly engaged in an accident in Umunede, Delta State, and after being taken to a hospital in Agbor, Delta State, it was determined that he was dead.
Besiktas, Ndidi’s team, verified the event on Tuesday. The club published a statement on their official X account, saying, “We are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic passing of our football player Wilfred Ndidi’s esteemed father, Sunday Ndidi, in a fatal traffic accident.”
“We offer our condolences to our football player Wilfred Ndidi, his family, and loved ones; may Allah grant mercy to the deceased.”
At the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, Ndidi just led Nigeria to a third-place result while scoring his maiden goal for the nation.
The midfielder mentioned his father and his respect for former Nigerian captain Kanu Nwankwo as he celebrated his headed goal against Tunisia in Nigeria’s second group encounter.
“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 often speaks about growing up with his father in the barracks, was born and raised in Lagos.
