Ndidi Dedicates Career to Late Father Who Pushed Him into Football

Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has paid tribute to his father, who tragically passed away in a car accident on Tuesday.

Ndidi, who was in action for Nigeria at the recent Africa Cup of Nations, recalled how his father was the driving force behind his football journey.

‘He’s the one who pushed me into football and always told me stories of the greats,’ Ndidi said.

The former Leicester City star revealed that his father was a huge admirer of Nigerian legend Nwankwo Kanu and often spoke about his grace and goals.

‘Growing up, my dad was a huge fan of Kanu. In our house, Kanu was the ultimate hero. My dad always talked about how he represented Nigeria,’ Ndidi said at the recently ended AFCON 2025.

Earlier this month, Ndidi scored in Nigeria’s 3-2 group stage win over Tunisia at the AFCON and dedicated the goal to his father.

‘I actually told myself before the game that if I scored, I had to do it for my dad. Celebrating like Kanu in a Super Eagles jersey was my way of saying thank you to my father for all his support and for showing me the way. It was a very proud moment for my family,’ he said.

Ndidi also reflected on his father’s initial reluctance to let him pursue football, preferring that he focused on his education.

‘My family were not really into football. My dad wanted me to go to school, not play football. He watched it on television but didn’t want me to play. He is a soldier, but he didn’t want me to follow in his footsteps either. He just wanted me to go to school,’ Ndidi recalled.

Despite those early reservations, Ndidi’s father eventually became his biggest supporter, encouraging him to chase his dreams and inspiring him with stories of Nigeria’s football greats.

‘My dad showed me the way, and everything I have achieved in football is because of the foundation he gave me. This loss is very painful, but I will continue to honour him every time I step onto the pitch,’ Ndidi said.