NFF confirms death of FIFA/CAF Medical Officer at Nigeria-Ghana match in Abuja  

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Wednesday confirmed the death of FIFA/CAF Medical Officer, Dr Joseph Kabungo, after the FIFA World Cup match between Nigeria and Ghana at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, on Tuesday. Dr. Kabungo was FIFA/CAF’s Doping Control Officer for the match.

The General Secretary of NFF, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, in a statement on Wednesday condoled with the family of the deceased and the various footballing bodies, expressing the Federation’s regret over the death of the Zambian official.

The statement reads: “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.”

Sanusi emphasized that the doctor in his last moments was found struggling for breath close to the Ghanian dressing room.

The General Secretary stated: “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.”

The NFF scribe stated that Dr Ozi Salami confirmed that the deceased became unconscious when he (Dr Kabungo) was looking to get the Ghanaian player for the doping exercise, while himself (Dr Salami) was looking to get the Nigerian player for the doping exercise. Dr Sanusi insinuated that Dr Kabungo’s death was caused by cardiac arrest.

Salami was cited to have narrated: “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.