Footballer slumps, dies during match in Edo State

A player with the Angels Football Academy, Christopher Edoghogho has died after he

slumped during a football match in Benin City, Edo State.

It was gathered that Edoghogho collapsed on the pitch on Thursday, June 2, two

minutes into the match against BJ Foundation Football Club in the ongoing

Federation Cup.

His teammates blocked the main entrance of the Edo Specialist Hospital, Benin and

the busy Sapele Road, to protest the alleged ‘attitude’ of medical personnel.

Speaking to journalists, one of his teammates, Okiemute Ovie explained that the

the match was going on smoothly at Edo State School of Health, Dumez Road, when

Edoghogho headed the ball and suddenly slumped on the field.

According to him, when Edoghogho slumped, other players and spectators thought it

was the usual falling on the pitch.

Ovie said once they realized that his condition was critical, they immediately called

the attention of the medical team.

“The game was on when Chris headed the ball to the center cycle and went down

about two minutes after then. We all thought it was one of the normal fallings that do

happen on the pitch. While they were checking, the referee signaled the medical

team and they came in and rushed him away.” he explained.

Ovie said that while they waited anxiously for news of the condition of the player, the

organizers of the tournament urged them to play on.

He said that the teammates refused to play but instead rushed to the hospital to find

out the condition of their colleague.

When they got to the hospital, they met the lifeless body of their colleague right

inside the ambulance.

“We demanded to know what happened to our colleague but nobody was ready to talk

to us. Until now, none of the members of the organizer of the tournament is here. It

is over four hours since the incident happened.” he added.

An official of the ministry, who confirmed the incident, however, promised that the

organizers will brief the press at the appropriate time.