Wilfred Ndidi pays tribute to late father after scoring for Besiktas

Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi paid a touching tribute to his late father by celebrating his goal for Besiktas in their 4-0 win over Göztepe with a military salute, Afrik-Foot reports.

​The past month has been incredibly difficult for Ndidi, who lost his father just three weeks ago. His father, Sunday Ndidi, tragically passed away in Delta State after being hit by a car.

Following the loss, the Super Eagles star was granted compassionate leave by Besiktas to travel to Nigeria for the burial ceremony.

​Ndidi shared a remarkably close bond with his father, who was a passionate football fan.

During the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations, Ndidi famously replicated Kanu Nwankwo’s celebration after scoring against Tunisia, later revealing it was a special dedication to his dad, who was a Kanu fan.

​Having returned to Turkey following the funeral, the 29-year-old was immediately drafted back into the starting lineup for the Black Eagles.

Few days after his father's burial in Nigeria, Wilfred Ndidi returns to Turkey & bags a goal.

Mentality 🔥🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/gX8WCYLcd7

— POOJA!!! (@PoojaMedia) February 22, 2026

It took Ndidi just six minutes to find the back of the net, and he marked the moment by running to the corner flag and hitting a salute—a direct tribute to his father, who served Nigeria as a soldier.

Wilfred ​Ndidi Key as Besiktas Claim Sweet Revenge Over Göztepe

​Wilfred Ndidi’s early strike set the tone for a dominant evening at the Tüpraş Stadium.

The match was a revenge mission for the former Turkish champions, who had suffered a bruising 3-0 defeat in the reverse fixture. Further goals from Michael Murillo, Junior Olaitan, and Oh Hyeon-Gyu ensured the rout was complete.

​Statistically, Ndidi delivered one of his most complete performances in a Besiktas shirt. Over the 90 minutes, he recorded a 77% pass accuracy, seven carries, three interceptions, three clearances, and won 11 of his 14 duels.

​This victory moves Besiktas to fourth in the Super Lig table, 12 points behind league leaders Galatasaray.

With 11 games remaining, the Black Eagles remain firmly in the hunt for European qualification. Next up is a fixture against Kocaelispor, where they will look to maintain this momentum.