A 29-year-old footballer, Adeyemi Adewale, tragically collapsed and died on Thursday during the Adeleke Memorial Cup final at the Ataoja School of Science in Osogbo, Osun State.
Yemisi Opalola, spokesperson for the Osun Police Command, confirmed the heartbreaking event. “During the match, Adeyemi Adewale slumped on the field. Efforts were made to save him as he was immediately rushed to the Osun State University Teaching Hospital,” she said. Sadly, doctors later confirmed that he had passed away.
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The young footballer, whose passion for the game was evident to all who knew him, was said to be in good spirits before the match. His sudden death has left family, friends, and the football community grappling with questions.
Investigations are now underway to determine the cause of his demise. The remains of Adeyemi have been deposited at the teaching hospital’s morgue.
This incident is a reminder of similar cases in Nigerian football. In March 2020, Chineme Martins of Nasarawa United collapsed during a Nigerian Premier League match and was pronounced dead at the hospital. Reports revealed delays in medical response due to inadequate facilities.
Similarly, David Faramola Oniya, a Nigerian defender playing in Malaysia, passed away after collapsing during a friendly match in 2015.
In 2010, Nigerian striker Endurance Idahor died after collapsing on the pitch while playing for Sudanese club Al-Merreikh.
For Adeyemi’s teammates, the memory of his infectious passion for the sport is a light in the darkness. One player remarked, “He gave everything to football; it’s hard to believe he’s gone.”
