Katsina United have clarified the circumstances surrounding the medical emergency involving their player, Chinedu Ozor, after he collapsed during a pre-season game in Katsina on Tuesday.

Ozor was said to have collapsed 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 a doctor pronounced him dead.

The club announced his passing through its official communication channels, but his former club, Heartland of Owerri, later reported that Ozor had been moved from the morgue and placed on oxygen after medical personnel noticed movements in parts of his body.

Our correspondent verified the development with Katsina United media officer Nasir Gide, who confirmed that the player was moved back to the intensive care unit at Katsina General Hospital after initially being taken to the morgue.

“When we rushed him to a nearby hospital, he was confirmed dead by a doctor. We collected a 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 on Tuesday.

“Later, the medical personnel informed us that he had been taken back to the ICU from the morgue when they noticed movements in his body.”

The club returned with another statement on Wednesday, seeking to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident and insisting that reports that Ozor had regained consciousness were inaccurate.

“With broken hearts, we wish to clarify the circumstances surrounding the tragic passing of our player, Chinedu Ozor, who collapsed during a friendly match against Niger Tornadoes at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, Katsina. Despite the efforts that followed, Chinedu sadly passed away,” the club stated.

“We have seen reports claiming that Chinedu later regained consciousness or ‘came back to life.’ We understand that people desperately wanted this to be true. We all did. But sadly, those reports are not true.

“In the heartbreaking moments after the incident, Chinedu’s family, overwhelmed by shock and refusing to give up hope, asked for further medical confirmation before his body was taken to the morgue. They were a family desperately hoping that somehow, against all odds, their loved one was still with them.

"We know how difficult this is to accept. We know many people are still trying to process what happened. His teammates are grieving. His friends are grieving. The club is grieving. And somewhere, a family is facing a pain that words cannot begin to describe.”

Heartland FC also posted a condolence message afterwards.

“Chinedu Ozor: You fought the good fight. You tried your best and strove to make the most of what we thought was a second chance you were given, but sadly, you could not make it.

“You fought the good fight of faith and have gone to your rest, though far too soon.”

Meanwhile, one of the clubs participating in the tournament, Barau FC, has reiterated its withdrawal from the pre-season competition, accusing the organisers of poor organisation and 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 recent 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 no further league matches should be played without the required medical equipment and personnel at venues. Match commissioners and host football associations were also instructed to inspect and test medical facilities before giving approval for matches to proceed. (The PUNCH)

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