Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi has opened up on the emotional motivation behind his memorable throwback celebration after scoring in Nigeria’s victory over Tunisia, revealing that the moment was a tribute to his father.

Ndidi found the net for Nigeria’s second goal shortly after Victor Osimhen had given the Super Eagles the lead in the first half, sealing an important win that confirmed the team’s place in the knockout stage of the competition in North America.

The strike carried special significance for the midfielder, as it marked his first-ever goal for the national team despite more than ten years of international service.

Rather than opting for a conventional celebration, Ndidi paid homage to Nigerian football history by recreating the iconic pose made famous by Kanu Nwankwo during Nigeria’s famous triumph over Brazil at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.

Explaining the inspiration behind the gesture, Ndidi said the celebration was deeply personal and rooted in childhood memories shared with his father.

“I was thinking about my dad,” Ndidi said after the match. “He always talked about Kanu and those moments. When I saw the video again, I said to myself, ‘I’ll do that celebration for my dad.’”

The nostalgic moment quickly resonated with supporters, many of whom instantly recognised the tribute to one of Nigeria’s most cherished football memories.

Nigeria’s win over Tunisia made them the second team to secure qualification for the knockout phase, following Egypt, who booked their place earlier after a narrow 1-0 victory over South Africa on Friday.

Also Read: NCAA: December Airfare Hike Not Caused by Taxes, Driven by Market Forces

With qualification assured, the Super Eagles will now shift their attention to their final group encounter against Uganda. The East African side has endured a mixed campaign so far, suffering defeat to Tunisia before earning a draw against Tanzania.