• Placed on oxygen

Were Chinedu Ozor a Muslim, the Katsina United new signing could have been buried alive erroneously because he had already been proclaimed dead.

Ozor, who joined Katsina United from Kano Pillars ahead of the forthcoming 2026/27 Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL), slumped and was rushed to the K-Dara Specialist Hospital for medical attention during a pre-season friendly against Niger Tornadoes at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, Katsina.

At the hospital he was allegedly proclaimed dead and taken to the mortuary, while efforts were being made to contact his family members.

However, while at the mortuary, one of the attendants noticed that his hands were moving and raised the alarm, according to reports.

He was subsequently returned to hospital where he was placed on oxygen.

Before the sudden turn of events, stakeholders had already started commiserating with Katsina United and the players’ family over “the untimely demise of Chinedu Ozor.”

When contacted, NPFL Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, said he was not in a position to talk on the matter as he was deep into a crucial meeting, but a top official of the league body, who pleaded anonymity, told The Guardian that the NPFL chairman, Gbenga Elegbeleye, would issue a statement later yesterday or this morning.

But Katsina United’s Media Officer, Nasir Gide, toold The Guardian that the player has been taken to Katsina General Hospital, whole the teams awaits his family’s arrival.

He said: We heard that he is still alive, but we are awaiting expert report from the doctors.

“All I can say for now is that when the incident happened, he was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was confirmed dead. He has now been taken to Katsina General Hospital.”