A medical practitioner from Zambia, Dr Joseph Kabungo has been killed during the violence that erupted after the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup play-off match between Nigeria and Ghana at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
Joseph Kabungo Dies In Abuja Stadium
Kabungo, the doping control officer for the Confederation of African Football (CAF), was alleged to have lost consciousness after he was beaten and stepped on by angry fans who tried to make their way out of the stadium due to stampede on Tuesday.
A British-Nigerian journalist, Osasu Obayiuwana, who disclosed this via his Twitter page after the match on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, said the CAF doctor was confirmed dead after he was rushed to the hospital.
Osasu tweeted, “Sad news: I understand that an official for the @NGSuperEagles vs @GhanaBlackstars match (not a referee or assistant referee) died in #Abuja today.
“His name is Dr Joseph Kabungo from Zambia. He was on duty as Doping officer. He collapsed suddenly and died. Cause of death not confirmed yet. His family, the Zambia FA and the government of Zambia have been duly informed.
“If the death of #Zambian doctor Dr Joseph Kabungo at the #Abuja stadium was caused by being attacked by the #Nigerian fans who invaded the pitch, after the @NGSuperEagles lost the @FIFAWorldCup ticket to @GhanaBlackstars, @thenff would be in terrible trouble with @FIFAcom.”
https://twitter.com/osasuo/status/1508970585258352643?s=20&t=5Ray_iz3OwFCuzcjiHaR9Q
https://twitter.com/osasuo/status/1508979933669957633?s=20&t=5Ray_iz3OwFCuzcjiHaR9Q
A Ghanaian sports journalist, Collins Atta Poku, who was also at the venue of the match, alleged that the doctor was beaten to death by angry fans.
While replying Osasu’s tweet, Poku posted, “They beat him, he fell and they throded on him. He lost consciousness was rushed to an ambulance closer to the Ghana dressing for CPR. The entire Ghanaian contingent watched on as resuscitation attempts were made with oxygen mask. He was taken to hospital later and now this. Sad.”
https://twitter.com/PapaPoku/status/1508973401314058242?s=20&t=YlId5s8-dS2D_aSe0JzmRQ
Joseph Kabungo Died Of Heart Attack
A Nigerian sports expert, Saddick Adams, claimed a reliable CAF source told him that Kabungo had a cardiac arrest, noting that his death was not related to the crowd violence.
Adams tweeted, “A reliable CAF source tells me the death of the CAF Medical officer at the Moshood Abiola stadium last night was NOT related to the crowd violence.”
A report sent to the CAF team by the Game Control Department was quoted as reading in part, “Kabungo had a cardiac arrest when walking towards the team dressing rooms and collapsed on the floor.
“Both team doctors and other medical personnel administered CPR on him but after a while he was taken to hospital and that’s when the terrible news was confirmed.”
https://twitter.com/SaddickAdams/status/1509061847005204485?s=20&t=BqYb4ZYmKqjVZdgaDHNLlQ
It wash gathered that If football authorities investigate and determine that he died as a result of the violence, Nigeria might be suspended by the CAF and FIFA.
Watch the video below:
https://twitter.com/thecableng/status/1508891946076549125?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1508891946076549125%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd-39198618713368581591.ampproject.net%2F2203172113000%2Fframe.html
Meanwhile, Ghanaian entertainers, Shatta Wale and John Dumelo, have mocked Nigeria after losing to Ghana on away goals rule in the 2022 FIFA World Cup play-off tie.