Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi has explained the emotional motivation behind his memorable goal celebration during Nigeria’s victory over Tunisia, revealing that the gesture was a tribute to his father.
Ndidi found the back of the net to score Nigeria’s second goal shortly after Victor Osimhen had opened the scoring in the first half. The strike was a landmark moment for the midfielder, as it marked his first-ever goal for the Nigerian national team after more than ten years of international duty.
Instead of a conventional celebration, Ndidi recreated the iconic pose made famous by legendary forward Kanu Nwankwo during Nigeria’s historic triumph over Brazil at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.
Speaking after the match, the former Leicester City star said the celebration was deeply personal and rooted in childhood memories.
“My dad always talked about Kanu and what he meant to Nigerian football,” Ndidi explained. “When I remembered the video, I thought it would be special to do that celebration for him.”
The gesture instantly resonated with fans, many of whom quickly recognised the homage to one of Nigeria’s most cherished football moments.
Nigeria’s win over Tunisia secured their place as the second team to advance to the knockout phase of the tournament in North America. They followed Egypt, who became the first nation to qualify after a narrow 1-0 victory over South Africa on Friday.
Attention now shifts to Nigeria’s final group fixture against Uganda. The East African side has had a mixed campaign so far, suffering a defeat to Tunisia before earning a draw against Tanzania.
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