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By Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has denied that the death of a Zambian official at the Moshood Abiola stadium, Abuja, was caused by the stampede at the stadium.
The NFF, according to a statement by its General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, said its findings show that the Zambian official “died as a result of sudden cardiac arrest.”
Zambian, Joseph Kabungo, who was appointed by the world football governing body, FIFA, as the Doping Control Officer for the Nigeria versus Ghana second leg play off in Abuja, died at the stadium on Wednesday.
The match played in Abuja ended 1-1 and ensured that Ghana qualified for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar at Nigeria’s expense.
Thousands of angry Nigerian fans who were at the stadium to watch the match went on rampage, destroying facilities at the stadium.
There had been unconfirmed reports that Kabungo died in the stampede.
However, despite the clarification by the NFF, FIFA may still sanction Nigeria for the stampede at the stadium.
“The Nigeria Football Federation has expressed shock and sorrow over the death of FIFA/CAF Medical Officer, Dr. Joseph Kabungo, who died on Tuesday after the FIFA World Cup playoff match between Nigeria and Ghana at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja. Dr. Kabungo was appointed as Doping Control Officer for the match.
“We are terribly shocked at this sad development. The NFF commiserates with world football 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.
“However, it is important to state the facts as they are. According to the information from our own medical officer, Dr. Onimisi Ozi Salami, who was appointed by FIFA as Medical Officer for the game, Dr. Kabungo was found gasping for breath near the dressing room of the Ghanaian team.
“I was notified and ordered that he should be rushed to the hospital. He didn’t make it. He died just as they got to the hospital,” Sanusi said
Ozi Salami told thenff.com that the incident happened when he (Dr. Salami) was looking to get the Nigerian player for the doping exercise, while Dr. Kabungo was looking to get a Ghanaian player for the same exercise.
“I was heading to the dressing room of the Nigerian team when the General Coordinator, Kabore Hubert Bosilong from from South Africa called my attention. Dr. Kabungo suddenly started gasping for breath. The FIFA Security Officer for the match, Mr. Dixon Adol 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,” Ozi Salami said.
Officials of the NFF, the medical team, and officials of the High Commission of Zambia held a meeting on Wednesday morning to decide on the next line of action following the demise of Kabungo.
