Tijani Babangida.
By Our Reporter
News emanating from Kaduna indicate that the President of the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN), Tijani Babangida is in a critical condition after he was involved in an accident on Thursday.
Tijanni’s younger brother, Inrahim who was also involved in the accident died on the spot and since been buried.
Tijjani, a gold medalist at Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, was behind the wheel when he ran into a moving trailer along Kaduna -Zaria Road.
His former teammate, Emmanuel Babayaro, who is the General Secretary of PFAN, disclosed the incident in a statement.
According to Babayaro “Comrades! Let us be in prayers for our president, Tijani Babangida, who just had a ghastly motor accident along the Kaduna-Zaria Road.
“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 stated.
Babayaro who confirmed the accident said, “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, 47, a retired footballer himself, was a member of the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning Golden Eagles squad in Japan.
He featured for local sides Bank of The North, Stationery Stores and Katsina United on the domestic scene before joining Dutch side Volendam in 1997.
Corroborating the incidence, Kaduna State Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Shehu Abdullahi said, “It is true, he was travelling to Zaria when he (Tijjani Babangida ) who was driving ran into a trailer according to an eyewitness, losing his brother with himself and others in board sustaining varying degrees of injuries,” he said.
