Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed the death of FIFA/CAF medical officer, Joseph Kabungo, after the 2022 World Cup play-off match between Nigeria and Ghana on Tuesday.
NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, made this known in a statement on Wednesday, March 30, denying that the rumored cause of his death.
On Tuesday, Ghana became the first African club to secure their spot for the World Cup in Qatar later this year, drawing 1-1 in MKO Abiola stadium in Abuja to progress on away goals.
Read Also: Qatar 2022: Nigeria Fail To Qualify For World Cup After Draw With Ghana
Unfortunately, the game ended in chaos after the full-time whistle sounded as the Nigeria fans stormed onto the pitch to show their displeasure at failing to qualify for the tournament for the first time since 2006. However, the passing of Dr Kabungo overshadowed the entire night of football.
There are reports that Kabungo died as a result of the stampede that occurred at the stadium and that he was beaten to death.
However, two veteran journalist, Saddick Adams and Gary Al-Smith said sources confirmed that the death isn’t related to the invasion of angry fans.
Read Also: Nigeria Vs Ghana: Zambian FA Confirms Death Of CAF Doctor, Joseph Kabungo In World Cup Clash
However, according to ThePunch, preliminary assessment shows he died on his way to the hospital from the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja on Tuesday.
Expressing shock over the incident, Sanusi stated;
The NFF commiserates with the world football governing body – FIFA; the Confederation of African Football; the Football Association of Zambia, and the family of Dr Kabungo on his sudden passing.
“His death pains us very much and we are in a state of deep shock,” Sanusi said while giving an account of what happened to Kabungo who was the match’s Doping Control Officer.
He stated;
According to the information from our own Medical Officer, Onimisi Salami, who was appointed by FIFA as the game’s medical officer, Kabungo was found gasping for breath near the dressing room of the Ghanaian team.
Sanusi expressed that he was heading to the dressing room of the Nigerian team, the General Coordinator, Kabore Bosilong from South Africa had called his attention to the issue.
He further stated;
Kabungo suddenly started gasping for breath. The match’s FIFA Security Officer, Dixon Okello from Uganda, also witnessed the incident. We tried to resuscitate him there and then, but when this did not appear to be working, we put him in an ambulance and rushed him to Cedar Crest Hospital in Apo, where he gave up the ghost. It is a very sad incident and one is shocked that some persons have been putting a terrible slant to the whole thing by saying he was beaten up by fans. That is a lie. He died as a result of sudden cardiac arrest.
