NFF confirms no Nigerian player among casualties of Turkey earthquake

With hundreds of civilians dead and some footballers confirmed dead in the 7.8 magnitude in Turkey early Monday morning, president of the NFF, Ibrahim Gusau, has confirmed that no Nigerian footballer was affected by the unfortunate incident.

He revealed this on the verified Instagram page of the football federation and remarked that the body was “sad about the unfortunate earthquake in Kahramanmaras city of Turkey.”

He noted that hehad reached out to Nigerian players based in Turkey and they have all confirmed to be fine.

“We pray for the souls of the departed to rest in peace even as we commiserate with the people of Turkey at this time,” the message noted.

Former Chelsea  and Newcastle winger Christian Atsu is reportedly stuck trapped under rubble of a destroyed building following a natural disaster in Turkey.

As reported by multiple outlets in Turkey, a search and rescue operation is underway for Ghanaian international Atsu, who joined Turkish Super Lig club Hatayspor last summer.

The 31-year-old joined Chelsea in 2013 but never played a competitive minute for the club as he was sent out on loan for a number of seasons including to Everton and Newcastle.

Though he made just five appearances at Everton, he impressed enough on loan at Newcastle to make a permanent move to the Magpies.

In total he made 107 appearances for the club, scoring eight goals, before joining Saudi side Al-Raed in 2021.

Newcastle have posted on social media with a photo of Atsu when he was at the club, saying they were ‘praying for some good news’.  

Atsu was in action on Sunday for Hatayspor, scoring a goal in the seventh minute of stoppage time in a 1-0 victory over Kasimpasa. 

In a message after the game, he wrote: ‘Important win for the team. Happy to be on the scoresheet.’

The earthquake hit hard in Kahramanmaras, where Hatayspor are based.

Hatayspor player Onur Ergun posted an Instagram story in response to earlier reports that he is missing to say they were incorrect. 

‘Thank you very much to everyone who called and asked,’ the midfielder said. ‘The news is not true. I’m fine.