Captain of the Super Eagles, Wilfred Ndidi, has lost his father, Sunday Ndidi, who died on Tuesday following a fatal road accident in Umunede, Delta State.

The deceased, a retired military officer, was reportedly involved in the crash and was confirmed dead after being rushed to a hospital in Agbor, also in Delta.

Ndidi’s Turkish club, Besiktas, confirmed the development in a statement released via its official 𝕏 handle.

The club said, “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.

“May Allah grant mercy to the deceased; we extend our condolences to our footballer Wilfred Ndidi, his family, and loved ones.”

The news has drawn condolences from fans, teammates, and the Nigerian football community, including officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), who expressed shock over the sudden death.

Ndidi, who has often spoken about his upbringing in the military barracks, was raised in Lagos and credited his father for much of his early discipline and love for football.

The midfielder recently led Nigeria to a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, where he also scored his first international goal in a 2–0 win over Tunisia.

During the tournament, Ndidi celebrated his goal with a gesture inspired by his father and Nigerian football legend, Kanu Nwankwo.

“The celebration came from my dad because he was always talking about Kanu Nwankwo.

“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 told journalists in Morocco.