Tag: Tijani Babangida

  • It is hard to forget – Tijani Babangida opens up on family tragedy

    It is hard to forget – Tijani Babangida opens up on family tragedy

    Former Super Eagles winger Tijani Babangida has  broken his silence over the harrowing experience that claimed the life of his younger brother and that of his one year-old son earlier in 2024.

    TheNewsGuru.com(TNG) reports that Babangida reflected on the pain of losing his family in tragic car accident in a documentary released on Thursday by Ajax Amsterdam, his former club.

    TNG recalls that Babangida while travelling with his younger brother, Ibrahim, his wife, their  son, Fadil, and a domestic staff member along the Kaduna-Zaria highway got involved in a fatal crash. 

    Ibrahim died on the spot while Fadil succumbed to his injuries days later.

    Babangida’s wife lost an eye and required facial reconstruction surgery while the maid sustained a fractured leg. Babangida himself suffered injuries to his legs and knees.

    Opening up about the incident, Babangida admitted that the pain and trauma are a permanent part of his life.

    I think I will live with this trauma for the rest of my life. It is hard to forget about it and move on when you suddenly lose your entire family,” the Babangida said.

    This was Babangida’s first public statement about the accident, revealing the deep emotional toll it had on him and his wife.

    This is my first time talking about the accident because I couldn’t do it. I can’t bear looking at photos and videos of my son.

    “It is even harder for my wife. She is an actress in Nigeria, famous in the northern part of the country. After being married a year, we had a baby. And suddenly, he was gone.

    “And my brother, who always joined me when I travelled. For me, I only injured my legs and knees. I had to assist my wife. That’s why I came here with my wife to get proper medical treatment,” Babangida stated.

    He also shared the emotional burden of breaking the devastating news to his wife, who had suffered memory loss following the accident.

  • Peter Obi visits Tijani Babangida after tragic accident

    Peter Obi visits Tijani Babangida after tragic accident

    Former presidential candidate of the Labour party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has visited ex- Nigerian International, Tijani Babangida who was involved in a ghastly car crash.

    Babangida, 50, broke his leg in the accident that claimed the life of his brother, a former international himself, Ibrahim and his son.

    Tijiani’s wife was also seriously injured.

    Speaking after the visit, Obi said, “They made the nation proud, they made us happy with their talents, and in times like this, they deserve our sympathy and attention.

    “I came to commiserate with him for the wound, for the lost ones, for the trauma and to show him that he is not forgotten.”

    Babangida, who’s still nursing the injured leg, told the former governor of Anambra State that he lost his brother and his son in the accident.

    The president of the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) also told Obi how help has been coming to him through his former colleagues and Ajax Football Club which he starred for during his playing days.

    The Atlanta 1996 Olympic gold medalist and the general secretary of PFAN, Emmanuel Babayaro, who was with Babangida when Obi visited, thanked him for the visit and said such a gesture was necessary to encourage the ex-player.

  • Ex-Super Eagles player, Tijani Babangida recuperating in Abuja hospital

    Ex-Super Eagles player, Tijani Babangida recuperating in Abuja hospital

    Ex- Nigerian International, Tijani Babangida who was involved in a ghastly car crash, is recuperating well in an Abuja hospital.

    The accident an accident claimed the life of his brother, a former international himself, Ibrahim and his son.

    He was appreciative of support of well meaning Nigerians that have been showing concern since the incident that has left him still in the hospital.

    Speaking from his hospital bed in Abuja, Babangida specifically thank the governor of Kaduna state, Senator Uba Sani for deploying all state machineries towards assisting him and his family in this trying period.

    He stated that the Commissioner of Local Government Affairs, Alhaji Sadiq Mamma Lagos who represented the governor attended to all their needs while in Zaria hospital. He also stated that because of their prompt response and support, his wife is also coming out of her critical condition.

    “I really do not know how much I can thank the Governor. He has demonstrated so much love towards me and my family in this trying period, and I am grateful.

    I want to also thank Alhaji Sadiq Mamma Lagos. He is indeed a very good friend and I appreciate him too.

    My coming to Abuja was facilitated by a friend who is like a brother to me, Engr. Mike Auta and I still want to say a very big thank you to him too.

    Since I came down to Abuja, the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Gusau in the company of some of his board members have visited me. I really appreciate them for the visit. Several of our ex-players both from Nigeria and abroad have visited and some have called to find out how I am doing. I am grateful to all of them,” Tijani said.

    The President of the Nigeria players union association assured Nigerians that by the special grace of God he would soon be back on his feet thanks to the first class treatment he has been given access to since the accident.

    Speaking about the death of his brother and his son, Babangida noted that he is not in a position to query God as Him alone understand why things happen the way they do.

    “Because of my religion it is not proper to query God no matter the level of the pain. It is Him that gives and it is Him that takes. I believe that with time He will give me the inner strength to forget,” Babangida concluded.

  • Former Super Eagles winger, Tijani Babangida in fatal road accident, brother dies on the spot

    Former Super Eagles winger, Tijani Babangida in fatal road accident, brother dies on the spot

    Former Super Eagles winger and  the  current President of the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN), Tijani Babangida was on Thursday involved in an auto crash in which his younger brother, Ibrahim Babangida died on the spot.

    Tijani who drove the car accidentally ran into a moving trailer along Kaduna -Zaria Road when the accident occurred.

    The report of the car crash was given by his former teammate, Emmanuel Babayaro, who is the General Secretary of PFAN, disclosed the incident in a statement.

    Babayaro’s comment reads  “Comrades! Let us be in prayers for our president, Tijani Babangida, who just had a ghastly motor accident along the Kaduna-Zaria Road.

    “Ibrahim Babangida, his younger brother, died on the spot from the accident while Mr President (Babangida) and his family were taken to the hospital. May the soul of Ibrahim Babangida Rest in Peace with God, amen,” he stated.

    Babayaro added, “Yes, it is true. The accident happened while they were on their way to Zaria from Kaduna,” he said.

    “His brother Babangida died on the spot from the accident. The accident happened today (Thursday) this afternoon and his wife was also involved in the accident.

    “He is currently admitted at Shika Hospital in Zaria, where he is receiving treatment and to the glory of God he is conscious,” he added.

    The late Ibrahim, 47, a retired footballer himself, was a member of the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning Golden Eagles squad in Japan.

    He featured for local sides Bank of The North, Stationery Stores and Katsina United on the domestic scene before joining Dutch side Volendam in 1997.

    Corroborating the incidence, Kaduna State Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Shehu Abdullahi said, “It is true, he was travelling to Zaria when he (Tijjani Babangida ) who was driving ran into a trailer according to an eyewitness, losing his brother with himself and others in board sustaining varying degrees of injuries,” he said.

  • AFCON Qualifiers: Why Super Eagles lost to Guinea Bissau – Tijani Babangida

    AFCON Qualifiers: Why Super Eagles lost to Guinea Bissau – Tijani Babangida

    Former Super Eagles Right winger, Tijani Babangida has stated reasons why the team lost to Guinea Bissau on Friday night.

    According to Babangida, the team was unlucky to have lost to the Djurtus of Guinea Bissau at the MKO Abiola stadium, Abuja.

    Ligue 1 forward, Mama Balde netted the decisive goal in the first half.

    Jose Peseiro’s men created a number of chances in the game but were unable to breach the opposition’s defence.

    “I am really impressed with the performance of the players and I hope they will get the job done in the reverse fixture in order to reclaim top position in the group,” Babangida stated, stressing that he was not happy that the Super Eagles lost 1-0 to Guinea-Bissau “despite the team playing good football.”

    The Super Eagles dropped to second position in Group A following the defeat.

    The two teams will clash again in the reverse fixture in Bissau on Monday.