Katsina United Football Club has officially confirmed the death of its player, Chinedu Ozor, ending confusion following reports that the footballer had shown signs of life after initially being pronounced dead.
The club’s Media Officer, Nasir Gide, confirmed the development in a telephone interview with Channels Television on Wednesday.
According to Gide, Ozor collapsed nine minutes into Katsina United’s pre-season match against Niger Tornadoes in Katsina in the early hours of Tuesday.
He was rushed to K-Dara Specialist Hospital, Gidan Dawa, where doctors pronounced him dead. His death was later confirmed at Katsina General Hospital.
However, the situation took a dramatic turn while the player’s body was being transported to the mortuary.
Gide explained that Ozor’s roommate reportedly noticed movement in one of the player’s hands at the mortuary, prompting an immediate return to Katsina General Hospital.
The player was subsequently placed on life support for 24 hours in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), at the request of his family.
Gide said the family, after receiving news of the development, requested that the body should not be deposited in the mortuary until they arrived to personally confirm the situation.
“It was his roommate that said he noticed the player moving his hand while at the mortuary. The family therefore requested that the body should not be deposited in the mortuary until after they arrived,” Gide said.
Despite emergency efforts by medical personnel and the period of observation in the ICU, Katsina United has now confirmed that the footballer has died.
Gide disclosed that the management of Katsina United would later on Wednesday hold a press conference to provide further details surrounding the tragic incident.
The confusion followed widespread reports on Tuesday night that Ozor, who had earlier been declared dead after collapsing during the pre-season encounter, was found to be showing signs of life at Katsina General Hospital, raising hopes that he had survived.
Before those reports emerged, the Katsina State Government had issued a condolence message mourning the player.
In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, Governor Radda described the incident as a devastating loss to Katsina United, the football community and Katsina State.
“The sudden death of Chinedu Ozor is deeply shocking and heartbreaking. It is particularly painful that a young footballer with a promising career has lost his life at such a time,” the governor had said.
He also extended condolences to the player’s family, Katsina United FC, his teammates, coaches, management, supporters, his former club Kano Pillars FC, and the wider Nigerian football community.
