Nigeria fans destroyed their stadium and the life of a family. A FIFA doctor also died in the fans’ rampage

A FIFA doctor died on duty during Tuesday’s World Cup qualifying match between Nigeria and Ghana in which Nigeria failed to qualify for the final tournament. Home fans vandalised their own stadium.

Nigeria fails to qualify for World Cup after 16 years

The final matches of the World Cup qualifiers were held in Qatar on Tuesday, which produced the teams that will “scramble” for the most valuable trophy in the national team competition. Among the qualifying matches was one that left a bitter taste in the football world.

We are referring to the qualifying match in the African section between hosts Nigeria and visitors Ghana. The home team, after a goalless draw in Ghana, needed a win to qualify for the final tournament but the match did not go well for them at all.

Visiting captain Thomas Partey scored in the tenth minute. Although the home side managed to equalise before the end of the half after a penalty kick by defender Troost-Ekong, the Nigerian team did not add another goal and will not qualify for the final tournament in Qatar after 16 years due to Ghana’s away goal rule.

Nigeria fans vandalised their own stadium after the final whistle

What happened after the final whistle is a sad chapter of the evening for Nigeria and the sport as a whole. For fans stormed the pitch at the Abuja National Stadium and vandalised their own stadium in shocking scenes. As the fury of the home fans turned violent, the police had to rush to the rescue and used tear gas.

The visiting players were forced to run for cover after the Nigeria fans showered them with bottles. Ghana fans were subsequently moved onto the pitch as many of them were reportedly attacked in the stands.

A FIFA doctor died during the incident

To make matters worse, then on Wednesday morning, the Zambia Football Association confirmed the gruesome news of the death of a FIFA doctor who was acting as a doping control during the match. “The Football Association of Zambia joins the rest of the football family in mourning the passing of Dr Joseph Kabungo,” a statement from the Football Association of Zambia read , according to The Sun.

“We note that it is too early to address the causes of his death but we will await a full report from FIFA on what exactly happened,” the statement continued. Reports emerged on Twitter that the doctor was beaten unconscious by a group of home fans.

The shocking incident will surely have a follow-up when FIFA and CAF (African Football Federation) investigate the whole incident. The conflict of course casts a shadow not only on Nigerian football but also on Africa as a continent.

Source: The Sun, Twitter