This was confirm after the covid-19 test of the Portuguese team before playing against Sweden.

Football is a game that we all love and has the highest number of fans base throughout the world. However, it comes with a great challenge for the players trying to give the fans a good show. It requires a great deal of strength and energy, as well as adequate physical training. This article present the list of 14 Nigerians both home and abroad who died while playing the beautiful game of football.

Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji; Date of death: August 12th 1989

Sam Okwaraji as he was fondly called was born on the 19th May 1964 in a city called Orlu, Imo State, Nigeria. He had his professional career in Europe, which included playing for AS Rama-Italy between 1984-1985), NK Dinamo Zagreb-(former Yugoslav) between 1985-1986, Austria Klagenfurt-1986-1987, VfB Stuttgart-Germany 1987-1989 and SSV Ulm 1846-Germany (loan) between 1987-1988.

He was part of the Green Eagles squad as The Super Eagles was called then in 1988 and at that year's African Nations Cup he scored one of the fastest goals in the history of the championship against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.

Unfortunately, on August 12th 1989 during the qualifier to 1990 World Cup in Italy in a match between Nigeria and Angola at The National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos. Samuel Okwaraji collapsed just ten minutes before the end the game. He died from possible complications of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as an autopsy showed. He had an enlarged heart and high blood pressure. He was just 25 years of age.

2. Amir Angwe; Date of death: 29th October 1995

Amir Angwe was a member of Julius Berger team that qualified for the African Cup Winners' Cup in 1995. Amir came in as a substitute in the second half, but his unfortunate incident happened in a game between Julius Berger and Mozambican club Maxaquene in a semi-final second leg tie in Lagos, a game Julius Berger won by 1-0. Amir came in as a substitute in the second half

3. John Ikoroma; Date of death: February 2000

John Ikoroma was a young 17 years old skillful player who was delight to watch on the field of play. John was in Dubai, United Arab Emirate to undergo a trial with a club side A Wahda S.C.C. when he suffered a heart attack and collapsed on the pitch and later died in the hospital.

John was the highest goalscorer in the James Peters U-17 squad that failed to qualify for the U-17 World Cup.

4. Orobosan Adun Date of death: 26 May 2009

Orobosan Adun was a goalkeeper of Warri Wolves FC. Just before his death, Orobosan was attacked by thugs suspected to be fans of Enugu Rangers FC which was the team they were billed to play with. The assault left a serious damage to the fine goalkeeper. Orobosan Adun did not receive adequate treatment. Unfortunately, on the 26th May 2009 Orobosan collapsed and died, just three days later after the assault from the fans of the opposition. He died of internal hemorrhage during a training session just few days to the all important match against Enugu Rangers FC. He died at the age of 28 years old.

5. Endurance Idahor; Date of death: 6 March 2010)

Endurance Idahor born was born on 4 August 1984 in Edo State, Nigeria. He was 5 ft 9" who plays as a striker for Sudanese club Al-Merreikh.

Endurance had career with Igbino Babes between 2001–2003, Julius Berger between 2003–2004, Dolphins between 2004–2005, Al-Merreikh 2006–2010, in 2008 he moved on a loan to deal to Al Nasr but as the time of his death he was back at Al-Merreikh.

On 6 March 2010, Idahor collapsed during a league game of his Sudanese club Al-Merreikh against Alamal Atbara. He died in the ambulance while on the way to the hospital. Autopsy later report that he suffered a circulatory collapse from a heart attack. Endurance Idahor a fine striker died at the age of 26.

6. Wilson Mene; Date of death: 8 May 2010

Wilson Mene was in action in The Metfone Cambodia League with his club side Prek Pra Keila against Preah Khan Reach. The 25 year-old suffered a heart attack and collapsed on the field of play.

Medical workers tried to revive him on the pitch for about 15 minutes before transferring him to the Calmetter Hospital. The director of the morgue at the hospital said, "The man dies of a heart attack and died before he even reached the hospital". The director said if Mene had arrived at the hospital 30 minutes earlier, he might have had a chance of surviving.

7. Emmanuel Ogoli; Date of death: 12 December 2010

Emmanuel Ogoli was a left back Nigerian professional footballer who played for Ocean Boys’ at the time of his demise. On the 12th of December 2010, the defender slumped and collapsed in the 39th minutes of the game. It was a league match against Niger Tornadoes at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa. A match his team Ocean Boys later won by 2-0.

Ogoli was rushed to hospital, but the report of his death on the way to hospital at the end of the game threw the Ocean Boys' dressing room into mourning. He had earlier suffered a “horror injury” in a November game against Plateau United on the same pitch. He was only just returning to the team when his death occurred. The cause of his death was not officially announced by it was believed he could have died of a heart attack. He was 21 years old.

8. Bobsam 'Bob' Elejiko; Date of death: 13 November 2011

Bob was born on 18 August 1981 in Lagos, Nigeria. He was 6 ft 2" a tall central defender who had earlier played for several clubs which include Wacker Nordhausen (Germany), Turnhout (Belgium), Westerlo (Belgium), Royal Antwerp (Belgium), C. Beira-Mar (Portugal), Deinze (Belgium) and Red Star Waasland (Belgium).

On the 13th of November 2011 Bobsam Elejiko collapsed and died while playing in a 5th tier match for Merksem S.C. against FC Exc. Kaart in Belgium.

Despite failed attempt to resuscitate him at the pitch side, Bob was pronounced dead and the match was abandoned. The cause of his death was a Traumatic rupture of the aorta. He was age 30.

9. Chinonso Henry Ihelwere Date of death: 5 August 2012

Chinonso Henry Ihelwere plays for CS Delta Tulcea a Romanian second division club against FC Balotesti when he collapsed after having played for less than 15 mins of play in the 86th of the game. An ambulance was called in but it was too late. He was not able to be resuscitated for about an hour of battle by the medical team before pronouncing him dead.

He underwent a health test just a week before this unfortunate demise with no sign of problems detected. Cause of his death is heart failure, the promising footballer was only 21 years old.

10. Joshua Pepple Date of death: October 2012

Joshua Tamunobarabonye Pepple was playing in Poland for his club Pomorzanin Nowogard against Szczecin Smierdnica in the Regional League side. Joshua collapsed on the pitch barely a minute into the match but he was asked to continue playing.

But later in the game by 26th minute Joshua fell a second time and the match was allowed to go on till the 30th minute, the player was confirmed dead on the field. The referee abandoned the match and was postponed. The cause of his death was heart attack but doctors do not exclude neck injury.

Prior to joining Pomorzaninie Nowogard he had earlier played for teams like Steel Glowno, Mazovia Grójec, Oder Górzyca, Piast Choszczno Rewal Coast Rewal, Sparta Gryfice etc. He was 24 years old.

11. Shetemi Ayetigbo Date of death: 31 May 2015

Shetemi Ayetigbo was 16-year-old when he collapsed on the pitch. The ugly incident happened less than 30 minutes into the game during a league match against rivals St Kevin’s Boys when tragedy struck at around 1.30pm. The match was cancelled.

An ambulance was called in and despite serious attempts to resuscitate Shetemi at the St Kevin’s Boys Football grounds on Shanowen Road, in Santry, he died at the scene. 

The ambulance took Shetemi to Beaumont Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Cause of death was an heart attack.

12. David Oniya Date of death: 13 June 2015

David was playing for Malaysia Premier League club T-Team as a defender when his unfortunate demise occurred. He was born on the 5th of June 1985 in Lagos State, Nigeria, he was 5ft 11"

During his playing days, he played for different clubs which includes Dinamo Samarqand (Uzbekistan) 2007–2011, Bunyodkor (Uzbekistan) 2011–2012, 2012 Sogdiana Jizzakh (Uzbekistan), 2012–2013 Buxoro (Uzbekistan), 2014 Neftchi Fergana (Uzbekistan), 2014–2015 T–Team (Malaysia).

He collapsed three minutes after kick-off in a friendly match against Kelantan and died less than one hour later in the hospital in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia.

13. Michael Umanika Date of death: 15 August 2016

Michael Umanika was a 20-year-old midfielder for Khazar Lankaran an Azerbaijani football club based in Lankaran. Michael Umanika collapsed during a team training session in Zagatala. He died of a suspected heart attack.

14. Chineme Martins Date of death: 8 March 2020

Chineme Martins was a midfielder for Nasarawa United. The unfortunate incident happened in a home game just some few weeks before the lockdown in a league match against Katsina United on the 8th March 2020. He collapsed on the pitch and was taken to Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital in Lafia, Nasarawa. He was 22 years old and the cause of his death was not disclosed but it was suspected to be a heart failure.

Our heart goes to the families of those who have lost their loved ones in the cold hand of death while trying to play the game that we all love. The first death was more than three decades but we still hold them close to our hearts. We shall continue to play the game with all caution.

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