Ex-Super Eagles Star Tijani Babaginda, Wife Hospitalized Following Tragic Accident; Brother Dies

Former Nigerian football star Tijani Babaginda, renowned for his prowess on the field with the Super Eagles, found himself in the grips of tragedy on Thursday as he and his wife were rushed to Shika Hospital in Zaria after a devastating motor accident on the Kaduna-Zaria Road.

Emmanuel Babayaro, a former teammate of Babaginda and current general secretary of the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN), conveyed the distressing news in an official statement, rallying support and prayers for their esteemed president.

“Comrades! Let us unite in prayer for our president, Tijani Babangida, who has been involved in a ghastly motor accident along the Kaduna-Zaria Road,” Babayaro’s statement read.

However, amidst the call for solidarity, a somber note was struck as Babayaro disclosed the heartbreaking loss of Babaginda’s younger brother, Ibrahim, in the same accident.

“Ibrahim Babangida, his younger brother, tragically lost his life in the accident, while Mr. President (Babaginda) and his family were rushed to the hospital,” Babayaro revealed.

In a poignant farewell, he added, “May the soul of Ibrahim Babangida Rest In Peace with God, amen.”

Ibrahim Babangida, aged 47, shared the legacy of footballing excellence with his brother, having been a member of the celebrated Golden Eaglets team that clinched victory in the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Japan. His career spanned both local and international arenas, representing teams such as Bank of The North, Stationery Stores, and Katsina United before venturing abroad in 1997.