Ex-Nigerian Footballer Dead, Olympic Gold Medallist, Wife Hospitalised

Retired Nigerian footballer Ibrahim Babangida is dead.

Ibrahim who was a member of the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning Golden Eagles squad in Japan died in a ghastly accident involving his brother Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games gold medallist and President of the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria, Tijani Babangida on Thursday.

The PUNCH reports that Babangida’s Former teammate, Emmanuel Babayaro, the General Secretary, PFAN, announced the incident in a statement.

Though the details of the accident remained sketchy as of the time of filing this report, PUNCH’s correspondent learnt that the accident happened along the Kaduna-Zaria Road.

“Comrades! Let us be in prayers for our president, Tijani Babangida, who just had a ghastly motor accident along the Kaduna-Zaria Eoad.

“Ibrahim Babangida, his younger brother, died on the spot from the accident while Mr President (Babangida) and his family were taken to the hospital.

“May the soul of Ibrahim Babangida Rest In Peace with God, amen,” he announced.

When PUNCH’s correspondent reached out to Babayaro, he confirmed the incident.

“Yes, it is true. The accident happened while they were on their way to Zaria from Kaduna,” he said.

“His brother Babangida died on the spot from the accident. The accident happened today (Thursday) this afternoon and his wife was also involved in the accident.

“He is currently admitted at Shika Hospital in Zaria, where he is receiving treatment and to the glory of God he is conscious,” he added.

The late Ibrahim aged 47 who was a member of the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning Golden Eagles squad in Japan featured for local sides Bank of The North, Stationery Stores and Katsina United on the domestic scene before joining Dutch side Volendam in 1997.