The world football governing body, FIFA, could sanction Nigeria heavily if the football body confirm that Dr. Joseph Kabungo died in the hands of Nigeria’s football supporters.
Futballnews has reported that after the Black Stars of Ghana ended the dream of the Super Eagles of Nigeria to play in the forthcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup, Nigeria’s fans at the MKO Abiola national stadium encroached the pitch.
The fans did not stop there, they went as far as destroying whatever they could to express how angry they were that Ghana came to Abuja, the country’s Federal Capital City to draw 1-1 which was enough to eliminate Nigeria from the race to Qatar.
Before the angry fans completely took over the main bowl of the stadium, Ghanaian players and the coaching crew were able to escape to the locker room and were able to make their way out of the stadium safely.
Even the home team managed to escape the uncontrollable number of football spectators who were determined to vent their anger on anyone and anything they could handle.
It was amid the crisis that Dr. Joseph Kabungo, a member of the FIFA and CAF anti-doping team died. Hence, it was suspected that the doctor who was from Zambia was beaten to death by the angry fans.
However, the president of the Zambia FA, Andrew Kamanga could not confirm what killed Dr. Joseph Kabungo. He said in a statement that the Zambia FA awaits a report from CAF and FIFA.
He said: “We take note that it is too early to dwell into the nitty-gritty of the cause of his death but will wait for the full report from CAF and FIFA on what exactly transpired.
“He was a dedicated and widely loved member of our football community and his impact was vast, having also been part of the 2012 Africa Cup-winning team.
“His death is a huge loss as Dr. Kabungo was a friend and confidant to many generations of players and their families. He was one of the outstanding Zambian football personalities that flew the Zambian flag at global football events.”
Also, a statement from Zambia FA read: “The Football Association of Zambia joins the rest of the football family in mourning the late Dr. Joseph Kabungo.
“Dr. Kabungo, a CAF/FIFA medical officer was on duty in Abuja for the second leg, the final qualifying match between Nigeria and Ghana that ended 1-1.”
Dr. Joseph Kabungo died of cardiac arrest according to Nigeria FA
Unlike the initial report that angry Nigerian fans beat up Dr. Joseph Kabungo to death after Ghana qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup to the detriment of Nigeria, the football governing body in Nigeria, NFF, stressed that the doctor did not die at the hands of Nigerians.
A statement from the football body stressed that the Zambian doctor was seen struggling to breathe near the dressing room of the Ghana national team.
The officials closed to the scene tried to resuscitate him but he was not responding to their effort. Hence, they rushed him to a hospital in Abuja where he died on arrival.
A statement from the NFF explained: “According to the information from our own Medical Officer, Onimisi Salami who was appointed by FIFA as the game’s medical officer, Kabungo was found gasping for breath near the dressing room of the Ghanaian team.
“…The match’s FIFA Security Officer, Dixon Okello from Uganda, also witnessed the incident.
“We tried to resuscitate him there and then, but when this did not appear to be working, we put him in an ambulance and rushed him to Cedar Crest Hospital in Apo, where he gave up the ghost.
“It is a very sad incident and one is shocked that some persons have been putting a terrible slant to the whole thing by saying he was beaten up by fans. That is a lie.
“He died as a result of sudden cardiac arrest.”
As it stands, it is now left for the African football governing body, CAF, and FIFA to investigate the incident and come up with a final report on what led to the death of the match’s Doping Control Officer.
If CAF and FIFA confirm that Dr. Joseph Kabungo died in the hands of the angry Nigerians, the country might be sanctioned heavily by the football bodies.
