The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has insisted that
Joseph Kabungo, the medical doctor from Zambia, died of “cardiac arrest” and
not as a result of the stampede at the Abuja stadium.
Kabungo, who was the Confederation of African Football (CAF)
doping control officer for the Super Eagles and Black Stars encounter on
Tuesday, was pronounced dead in the early hours of Wednesday.
His death was announced a few hours after fans invaded the
recently refurbished MKO Abiola Stadium and vandalised facilities in protest of
the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
But in a statement on Wednesday, the NFF maintained that
Kabungo death had nothing to do with the chaos that ensued in the stadium.
The statement said Kabungo was found gasping for breath near
the dressing room of the Ghanaian team and was rushed to the hospital where he
died.
It added that Onimisi Ozi Salami, the Nigerian who was
FIFA’s medical officer for the game, and Dixon Adol Okello, the Ugandan who was
FIFA’s security officer for the match, witnessed the incident.
“NFF has expressed shock and sorrow over the death of
FIFA/CAF Medical Officer, Dr Joseph Kabungo, who died on Tuesday after the FIFA
World Cup playoff match between Nigeria and Ghana at the Moshood Abiola
National Stadium, Abuja. Dr Kabungo was appointed as Doping Control Officer for
the match,” the statement read.
“We are terribly shocked at this sad development. The NFF
commiserates with world football –body FIFA, the Confederation of African
Football, the Football Association of Zambia and the family of Dr Kabungo on
his sudden passing. His death pains us very much, and we are in a state of deep
shock.
“’However, it is important to state the facts as they are.
According to the information from our own medical officer, Dr Onimisi Ozi
Salami, who was appointed by FIFA as Medical Officer for the game, Dr Kabungo
was found gasping for breath near the dressing room of the Ghanaian team. I was
notified and ordered that he should be rushed to the hospital. He didn’t make
it. He died just as they got to the hospital,’ NFF General Secretary, Dr
Mohammed Sanusi said.
“Dr Ozi Salami told thenff.com that the incident happened
when he (Dr Salami) was looking to get the Nigerian player for the doping
exercise, while Dr Kabungo was looking to get the Ghanaian player for the same
exercise.
“I was heading to the dressing room of the Nigerian team
when the General Coordinator, Kabore Hubert Bosilong from South Africa, called
my attention. Dr Kabungo suddenly started gasping for breath. The FIFA Security
Officer for the match, Mr Dixon Adol Okello from Uganda, also witnessed the
incident.
“We tried to resuscitate him there and then, but when this
did not appear to be working, we put him in an ambulance and rushed him to
Cedar Crest Hospital in Apo, where he gave up the ghost. It is a very sad
incident, and one is shocked that some persons have been putting a terrible
slant to the whole thing by saying he was beaten up by fans. That is a lie. He
died as a result of sudden cardiac arrest.
“Officials of the NFF, the medical team and officials of the
High Commission of Zambia, held a meeting on Wednesday morning to decide on the
next line of action following the demise of Dr Kabungo.”
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