Super Eagles’ defender, Olubayo Adefemi, dies in car crash

Tragedy befell Nigerian football on Monday when the Nigeria Football Federation confirmed that Super Eagles’ youthful defender, Olubayo Adefemi had died in a car crash in Greece.

The 25-year old right back, who could also play as a midfielder, died when he lost control of the car he was driving on the road from his base, Xanthi to Thessaloniki, where he was to board a flight to Nigeria to finalize plans for his wedding programme.

His manager, Miguel Riera, who spoke to the NFF hierarchy on phone from Xanthi on Monday morning, said the accident occurred at about 7am Nigeria time as Olubayo attempted to make good use of the one-week break granted by his Greek top club, Xanthi Skoda to travel to Nigeria to finalize his marriage plans.

“This is very sad. I am very sad to confirm to you that Olubayo is dead. There is no doubt about it. I am presently at the hospital and I have identified the body. The autopsy will be out in a few hours, but there is no doubt that he has died”, said Miguel Riera.

The cool-headed defender was one of the so-called ‘Siasia boys’, showing remarkable consistency all the way from being a key member of the Nigeria U-20 side that won the FIFA World Cup silver in The Netherlands in 2005 and playing regularly with the U-23 side that reached the final of the 2008 Olympics Men’s Football Tournament in China. He even scored one of the goals in the semi final defeat of Belgium.

Hard tackling, always fully on the alert and fearless, Adefemi made the logical move to the senior team in 2009 and was a member of the squad that qualified Nigeria for the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa. But he missed the cut for the 2010 African Cup of Nations and was also overlooked for the World Cup finals.

NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, in South Africa for the 17th African Youth Championship in which Nigeria defeated world champions Ghana 2-1 on Monday, was 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 me on phone. Why? Such a young and dedicated player? Why now? Oh, I can’t say more”, said Maigari.

The Secretariat of Nigeria Football Federation 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 a 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”, said NFF’s Acting General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu.

Amadu added 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.

Olubayo Adefemi was born on 13th August, 1985 and was invited by Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Samson Siasia for the team’s last 2012 Cup of Nations qualifier against Ethiopia and the international friendly against Kenya, both at the National Stadium, Abuja.