Ex-S’Eagles Star Tijjani Babangida Cheats Death, Loses Brother In Ghastly Accident

On Thursday, Tijani Babangida, the President of the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN), was involved in a car accident that tragically claimed the life of his younger brother, Ibrahim Babangida.

The incident occurred along the Kaduna-Zaria Road when Tijani, the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games gold medalist, collided with a moving trailer while driving. Emmanuel Babayaro, Tijani's former teammate and the General Secretary of PFAN, confirmed the accident in a statement, expressing condolences for Ibrahim's passing and requesting prayers for Tijani's recovery.

Babayaro revealed that Ibrahim died instantly, while Tijani and his family were taken to the hospital. Tijani is currently receiving treatment at Shika Hospital in Zaria and is conscious, according to Babayaro.

Ibrahim, aged 47 and a retired footballer himself, was part of Nigeria's 1993 FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning Golden Eagles squad. He played for various local teams before joining Dutch side Volendam in 1997.

Shehu Abdullahi, the Kaduna State Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), corroborated the incident, stating that Tijani's vehicle collided with a trailer while en route to Zaria, resulting in Ibrahim's tragic death and injuries to others on board.