Tijjani Babangida, wife hospitalised as road accident claims brother’s life

Tijjani Babangida, the former Super Eagles player, has been hospitalised after he was involved in a car crash along the Kaduna-Zaria highway. 

According to a statement by Emmanuel Babayaro, general secretary of the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria(PFAN), Babangida was travelling with Ibrahim, his younger brother, alongside his wife, his son, and his maid when the incident happened on Thursday.

The statement said Ibrahim died immediately after the accident while the remaining passengers were rushed to the hospital.

Speaking with TheCable, Babayaro said Ibrahim will be buried after the Jummat service on Friday.

He added that Tijjani is “conscious” and other victims of the accidents are “recuperating”.

Tijjani Babangida is the president of PFAN and was a member of the Nigeria U-23 team that won the gold medal in football at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

He had a decade spell with the Super Eagles, where he became famous for his speed down the wings.

Babangida was also a member of the Eagles squad at the 1998 World Cup and 2000 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Ibrahim was also a former footballer who was a member of the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning Golden Eaglet squad in Japan.

He played for Bank of The North, Stationery Stores and Katsina United in Nigeria before joining Eredivisie side Volendam in 1997.