Wilfred Ndidi paid a powerful tribute to Nigerian football history on Saturday, December 27, 2025, when he recreated Nwankwo Kanu’s iconic goal celebration from the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games after scoring his first-ever goal for the Super Eagles.
The Super Eagles captain struck Nigeria’s second goal against Tunisia, a moment that marked a major personal milestone. It was Ndidi’s maiden goal for the national team and his first since assuming the captain’s armband, making the occasion even more memorable.
The celebration carried deep symbolism. Ndidi mirrored Kanu’s unforgettable reaction following Nigeria’s dramatic winning goal against Brazil at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics, a tournament that culminated in the Super Eagles claiming Africa’s first Olympic football gold medal.
In a remarkable twist of fate, that historic celebration occurred in 1996, the same year Ndidi was born — five months before his birth. Adding to the coincidence, Ndidi wore the No. 4 jersey, the same number worn by Kanu during that legendary Olympic triumph.
Although Kanu has long since retired, his influence continues to echo through Nigerian football. Ndidi’s homage was more than a celebration; it was a bridge between generations, a reminder that while legends may leave the pitch, their legacy lives on — reborn in moments that connect the past to the present.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
