- Super Eagles Midfielder Wilfred Ndidi Mourns Father Following Road Accident
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Football community mourns; NSC, NFF, and Super Eagles express condolences.
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Ndidi recalls personal AFCON goal celebration in honour of father
Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has opened up about the final moments he shared with his father, Sunday Ndidi, hours before the retired military officer died in a road accident in Delta State on Tuesday.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Mr. Ndidi was involved in a crash in Umunede and was rushed to a hospital in Agbor, where he was later confirmed dead. The news was officially shared by Ndidi’s club, Turkish side Besiktas, around noon on Tuesday.
The 29-year-old footballer took to Instagram to express his grief, reflecting on the last conversation he had with his father. “Eeraq, you called me this morning with excitement in your voice, but deep down, it was a goodbye,” Ndidi wrote. He continued, “What about the things we talked about? So we won’t talk again? Only memories?”
Ndidi, who recently captained Nigeria to a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, also recalled a deeply personal moment from the tournament. He scored his first-ever international goal during the competition and marked it with a Kanu Nwankwo-inspired celebration in honour of his father, a fan of the former Super Eagles captain.
“Even when I scored my first national team goal, I did that Papilo dance for you, but you just left like that,” he wrote, sharing a photo of himself with his father and Kanu.
Tributes have poured in from across Nigerian football. The National Sports Commission (NSC), the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), and the Super Eagles all extended condolences to Ndidi and his family.
Director General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade, described the loss as a painful moment for Nigerian sports. “On behalf of the Chairman of the NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and the Nigerian sports family, I want to express our heartfelt condolences to Wilfred Ndidi and his family for this unfortunate loss,” Olopade said.
NFF General Secretary Dr Mohammed Sanusi added, “This is very sad. The player just gave his very best to the nation at the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco. We pray for the repose of the soul of Mr Sunday Ndidi and that Almighty God will comfort our team captain, his siblings, relatives and all those he has left behind.”
The official Super Eagles 𝕏 account also shared support, stating, “Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time, Wilfred.”
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