Sports

Nigeria in serious trouble as CAF doctor dies after 1-1 draw with Ghana

Published

2 years ago

March 30, 2022

Nigeria could be in serious trouble with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and world football governing body, FIFA, as a Zambian medical doctor, Joseph Kabungo, slumped and died following fans rampage at the MKO Stadium in Abuja, after a 1-1 draw in the Nigeria-Ghana 2022 FIFA World Cup playoff game on Tuesday.

Kabungo who was CAF’s doping control officer for the Super Eagles and Black Stars game, died after violence erupted at the end of the match.

Though the circumstances surrounding Kabungo’s death are still shrouded in mystery, especially the state of his health prior to the stadium invasion, it is expected that CAF and FIFA will descend heavily on Nigeria with sanctions and fines in the coming days.

Hours after the unfortunate incident, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), and officials from CAF have yet to issue statements on the circumstances that led to Kabungo’s death but the Zambia FA has confirmed his death, saying both his family and the Zambian government have been informed.

A Zambian journalist with Supersport, Matimba Nkonje, who confirmed the death of Kabungo on Twitter, said the medical doctor died following the fracas that ensued when the Nigerian fans rioted at the end of the drab match.

AFCON 2012 Chipolopolo winning squad Team Doctor, Dr. Joseph Kabungo died last night in Nigeria after the Nigeria vs Ghana World Cup qualifier where he was the CAF doping Officer following some fracas that ensued after the match where fans ran riot.Doc go well. MYSRIEP pic.twitter.com/83xwYgir6B

— Matimba Nkonje (@Ama1010Zambia) March 30, 2022

Also, a Nigerian journalist with BBC, Osasu Obayiuwana, tweeted:

“Sad news: I understand that an official for the @NGSuperEagles vs @GhanaBlackstars match (not a referee or assistant referee) died in #Abuja today.

“His name is Dr Joseph Kabungo from Zambia. He was on duty as Doping officer. He collapsed suddenly and died. Cause of death not confirmed yet. His family, the Zambia FA and the government of Zambia have been duly informed.

IF the death of #Zambian doctor Dr Joseph Kabungo at the #Abuja stadium was caused by being attacked by the #Nigerian fans who invaded the pitch, after the @NGSuperEagles lost the @FIFAWorldCup ticket to @GhanaBlackstars, @thenff would be in terrible trouble with @FIFAcom.

— Osasu Obayiuwana (@osasuo) March 30, 2022

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Sports

Al Ahly, Esperance to clash in CAF Champions League final

Published

1 day ago

April 27, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Two of Africa’s club giants, Egypt’s Al Ahly and Esperance of Tunisia, will do battle next month over two legs for the right to be crowned champions of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

Title-holders Al Ahly and their long-standing rivals Esperance both booked their places in the final with dramatic semi-final victories over DR Congo”s TP Mazembe and Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa respectively on Friday night.

While Al Ahly, winners of five of the last seven editions of the continent’s top draw tournament, with a record 11 in total, overcame TP Mazembe with a 3-0 aggregate victory in the semi-final second leg after a goalless first leg last Saturday, Esperance surprised Sundowns with a 1-0 victory in Pretoria to wrap up a 2-0 aggregate win.

The two-legged final will mark the third encounter between Ahly and Esperance in the Champions League final, with the Egyptians winning in 2012 and the Tunisians triumphing in 2018.

In 2023, the two clubs clashed in the semi-finals with Ahly emerging victorious home and away, securing a 4-0 aggregate triumph.

Esperance who are aiming for a fifth Champions League title, will host the first leg in Rades on May 18, with the return fixture scheduled in Cairo seven days later.

Sports

Former Zambian captain Rainford Kalaba discharged from hospital after near-fatal accident

Published

2 days ago

April 26, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Former Zambian national team captain, Rainford Kalaba, has been discharged from hospital weeks after he was involved in a near-fatal accident where he sustained serious injuries.

The accident which involved a head-on collision between a Mercedes-Benz car in which Kalaba was in, and a truck, had initially sparked fears for his life and has since been in the Intensive Care Unit of the Zambian University Teaching Hospital (UTH).

The good news on the footballer’s progress was released by the UTH Public Relations Officer, Nzeba Chanda, who informed that the Chipolopolo legend has been discharged after showing positive signs of recovery.

“Mr. Rainford Kalaba has been discharged from the UTH-Adult where he was admitted after being involved in a road traffic accident two weeks ago,” Chanda said, adding that Kalaba will continue his recovery at his family home.

According to local media reports, the 37-year-old was a passenger in a Mercedes Benz when it collided with an oncoming truck in the south-eastern Zambian town of Kafue a week and five days ago.

In his active playing days, Kalaba spent the majority of his club career at TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo, winning the CAF Champions League with the club in 2015 and the CAF Confederation Cup in 2016.

He also had a spell with clubsides in Portugal including FC Braga, and was a major part of the Zambian squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012 under Frenchman, Herve Renard.