NPFL player Ozor in ICU after reported death
August 12, 2026 4:57 am
Katsina United player Chinedu Ozor
Katsina United player Chinedu Ozor is in the intensive care unit of Katsina General Hospital after he was initially pronounced dead following a collapse during a pre-season match on Tuesday, The PUNCH reports.
Ozor was said to have slumped during Katsina United’s match against Niger Tornadoes at the Gusau/Ahlan Pre-season Cup in Katsina and was subsequently rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
However, after the club took his body to Katsina General Hospital, medical personnel reportedly noticed movement and he was subsequently taken back to the intensive care unit.
Katsina United media officer, Nasir Gide, confirmed the latest development to The PUNCH.
“When we rushed him to a nearby hospital, he was confirmed dead by a doctor. We collected police report and took him back to Katsina General Hospital where he was also said to be dead. They took his body to the morgue there,” Gide said.
“Later, the medical personnel informed us that he has been taken back to the ICU from the morgue when they noticed movement in his body.”
The development came after Katsina United had initially announced Ozor’s death, prompting condolence messages from his former club Kano Pillars and other clubs.
His other former club, Heartland, had earlier reported the development on X, saying Ozor had been moved from the mortuary to hospital after reportedly showing signs of movement.
“Reliable sources say Chinedu Ozor has been moved from the mortuary to the hospital after reportedly showing signs of movement. He is currently on oxygen as medics work to revive him,” Heartland posted.
“Ozor, we believe in the God of a second chance. May God restore.”
A Niger Tornadoes player who featured against Ozor in Tuesday’s match also expressed hope that the player would pull through.
“It was heartbreaking. We are hoping for a miracle,” he told our correspondent via WhatsApp.
Meanwhile, one of the clubs participating in the tournament, Barau FC, has withdrawn from the competition, accusing the organisers of allowing the tournament to continue despite the incident.
The incident has again raised concerns about medical preparedness at football venues in Nigeria.
It comes exactly one year after Shooting Stars assistant coach Akin Olowokere collapsed and died during a training session on August 11, 2025. The former Sunshine Stars player and coach was rushed to hospital after collapsing on the pitch but was pronounced dead.
The most prominent incident involving an NPFL player occurred in March 2020, when Nasarawa United defender Chineme Martins, 23, died after collapsing during a league match against Katsina United.
Following Martins’ death, the Nigeria Football Federation directed that league venues must have the required medical equipment and personnel before matches could go ahead. Match commissioners and host football associations were also instructed to inspect and test medical facilities before matches.
Abiodun, who reports Sports for PUNCH, covers different tiers of the Nigerian football league, the national teams, as well as cricket, in the last six years
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected]