- Chinedu Ozor has died after collapsing during a pre-season match
- The footballer was placed on life support after reports of movement at the mortuary
- Katsina United has now confirmed his death
Katsina United Football Club has confirmed the death of its player, Chinedu Ozor, following a medical emergency that occurred during a pre-season fixture against Niger Tornadoes.
The club’s Media Officer, Nasir Gide, confirmed Ozor’s death in a telephone conversation with Channels Television on Wednesday, putting an end to conflicting reports about the footballer’s condition, Eko Hot Blog gathered.
Ozor reportedly collapsed about nine minutes into the pre-season match, which was played in Katsina in the early hours of Tuesday. He was immediately taken to K-Dara Specialist Hospital in Gidan Dawa for medical attention.
Doctors at the facility later pronounced him dead, with his death subsequently confirmed at Katsina General Hospital.
However, uncertainty arose after Ozor was taken to the mortuary. According to Gide, the player’s roommate reportedly observed movement in one of his hands, prompting those around him to raise the alarm.
The development led to the player being taken back to Katsina General Hospital for further assessment. His family was also informed and requested that the body should not be placed in the mortuary until they arrived to verify the situation themselves.
Ozor was subsequently placed under observation in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit, where he remained on life support for 24 hours at the request of his family.
Despite the renewed medical intervention and efforts to determine whether he had regained vital signs, the club has now confirmed that the footballer did not survive.
Gide said the club management was expected to address the media later on Wednesday and provide additional information about the circumstances surrounding the player’s death.
The incident generated confusion after reports emerged on Tuesday that Ozor, who had initially been declared dead, had shown signs of life at Katsina General Hospital.
The reports raised hopes among his family, teammates and supporters that he might have survived the medical emergency.
Before the latest confirmation from Katsina United, the Katsina State Government had already issued a condolence message over the footballer’s reported death.
Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, through his Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, described Ozor’s death as a painful loss to the state and the Nigerian football community.
The governor expressed sympathy to Ozor’s family, teammates, coaches, club management and supporters, while also extending condolences to his former club, Kano Pillars FC.
He described the death as particularly heartbreaking because Ozor was a young footballer with a promising career ahead of him.
The circumstances surrounding the player’s sudden collapse and death have left the football community in Katsina mourning, with further details expected from Katsina United following its planned briefing.
