CAF Champions League Hit With Tragedy

BY KUNLE SOLAJA

On the same day that Nigeria lost one of its former international footballers and coach, Kelechi Emeteole, African football was left reeling with another tragedy as a medical doctor of a Sudanese club, Al Hilal died after his club’s match in the CAF Champions League on Wednesday night.

According to a post by Sudanese journalist, Mufti Mohamed on AIPS-Africa platform, Ibrahim Hassen, the head of Al-Hilal medical team died after supervision of his club’s 1-1 home draw with Tunisia’s Etoile Sportive du Sahel at the Hilal Stadium in Omdurman.

According to journalist’s account, during the second half of the game, the doctor felt a sudden pain in his chest and went to the hospital where he passed away.

“It is really great shock to all, especially Al-Hilal players.  They didn’t believe because he had been with them during the match where he entered the field more than four times to care for them.  He also assisted players from other teams who stand against Al-Hilal…”

AIPS-Africa president, Nigeria’s Mitchel Obi has already sent his condolences to the Sudanese football family.

• The doctor’s death again brings to fore the rise in sudden deaths in football. Just last month, a player of Kwara United of Nigeria, Saka Abdulazeez, slumped and died while training with his teammates. The same happened to an Ivorian player, Cheick Tiote who died earlier this month while training with his Chinese club, Beijing Enterprises.
  
  Late Ibrahim Hassen