Nigerians Mourn Olubayo

Nigerians have been left stunned by the death of Super Eagles reliable defender Adefemi Olubayo.

The 25 year-old died in a car crash in Greece yesterday while driving to the airport. He was on his way to Nigeria to finalise arrangements for his wedding slated for next month.

Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia, who has coached the defender since his U-20 days, was shocked into silence.

“No, it is not true,” was Siasia’s first reaction to the news after nearly a minute of silence.

Captain Joseph Yobo was equally speechless.

“I don’t know what to say except to wish his family my deepest condolences,” Yobo said. “I can’t say anything now, give me a couple of hours and maybe I will have the words to express how sad this is.”

FIFA and CAF instructor, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde said: “This is a sad event for us. It’s unfortunate that a young boy, who was just coming up has to go like this. I pray that God should give his family the fortitude to bear the loss.”

NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari who is in South Africa for the 17th African Youth Championship, where Nigeria defeated world champions Ghana 2-1 yesterday, was also weighed down by sorrow.

“This is devastating. I was just leaving the stadium after our U-20 team’s victory over Ghana when the Acting General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu called to inform me on phone,” said Maigari.

The Secretariat of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF was also thrown into mourning as management and staff tried to come to terms with the demise of the promising, effervescent and energetic player.

“We are in grief, total grief. This has come on a day that we should be celebrating the Flying Eagles’ defeat of the world champions at the African Youth Championship. But at this stage, we can only pray for the repose of his soul and that God should grant the family he has left behind and Nigeria football family the fortitude to bear the huge loss,” Amadu said, adding that the NFF would stay in contact with the club and the family of late Adefemi on his body’s journey back to Nigeria and the Federation’s involvement in the burial rites.