“This Is A Nightmare” – Tijani Babangida Speaks After Losing His Son, Brother In Car Accident

Former Super Eagles star, Tijani Babangida has shared the heartbreaking story of losing his son and brother in a tragic car accident earlier this year.

The accident occurred on May 9, 2024, along the Kaduna-Zaria Road. Babangida suffered injuries to his knees and legs, while his wife and maid were also hurt.

Tijani Babangida’s son and brother did not survive the crash. His son was laid to rest the following day according to Islamic traditions.

In an emotional interview with his former club AFC Ajax, Babangida recounted the devastating loss.

He revealed the deep pain of losing his loved ones and spoke about the challenges of supporting his wife through her recovery.

After just a year of marriage, the couple welcomed their baby boy, Fadeel, who sadly lost his life in the accident.

Babangida revealed that his wife, a well-known actress in northern Nigeria, has shown incredible strength despite the tragedy.

He also mourned the loss of his brother, a fellow ex-international who played for Nigeria’s victorious 1993 FIFA U-17 World Cup team. His brother was a constant travel companion.

“This is a nightmare. 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. 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. It’s hard.

“After three months in the Netherlands, I was finally able to tell her that our child was in the car when the accident took place. She started [to] ask about his name. She can’t remember anything about him. She’s so strong that she managed to survive,” Babangida said.

Despite the pain, Babangida expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support he has received from friends and former teammates in the Netherlands.

Former teammate Huub Stevens offered words of encouragement, saying, “Hey Baba, especially in these difficult times in your lives, I want to wish the both of you the very best. As former teammates of Roda JC, we will support and help you. Never give up.”

Legendary coach Louis van Gaal also shared inspiring words, encouraging Babangida to stay positive.

“I want to give you inspiration to stay positive despite everything you’ve been through. You’re able to emanate that positive energy to your wife, and that’s very important in life,” Van Gaal said.

Babangida expressed his appreciation, noting that a former teammate, Marco van Hoegdalem, has been instrumental in supporting him.

He said, “Marco van Hoegdalem, a former teammate, has done almost everything for us. Every day, a former teammate who is famous comes to pick us up and take us to a physiotherapist or to the hospital.”

A touching video also captured Babangida’s reunion with his former coach Louis van Gaal, highlighting the enduring bonds of friendship during this challenging time.

Watch the video below:

‘I simply want to live a peaceful life’

Six months ago, Babangida’s world collapsed. In a serious car accident, he lost his one-and-a-half-year-old son & his younger brother, while his wife was seriously injured.

Ajax’s crowdfunding campaign to help Baba.pic.twitter.com/eobGpMkqIl

— Oluwashina Okeleji (@oluwashina) December 12, 2024

KanyiDaily had reported how Tijani Babangida and his family were in a car accident that sadly took the life of his son and younger brother, Ibrahim Babangida.