‘Former footballer Tijjani Babangida seriously injured after car accident in which brother Ibrahim died’

Nigerian former footballer of Roda JC and Ajax, among others, Tijjani Babangida (50) was seriously injured in a car accident in his homeland. His younger brother Ibrahim Babangida (47), who also has a past as a professional football player at FC Volendam, among others, died, various African media report.

The accident is said to have occurred on a highway between the Nigerian towns of Kaduna and Zaria. Tijjani is said to be in critical but stable condition in hospital. In addition to the two brothers, among the occupants of the crashed vehicle was Tijjani’s wife, who was also injured and was said to have been admitted to Zaria hospital.

Tijjani Babangida was brought to the Netherlands by Roda JC in 1991. After a rental period at fellow provincial VVV-Venlo, the small right winger made his final breakthrough in Kerkrade, after which Ajax struck in the summer of 1996. The Nigerian winger would ultimately stay at the club until 2003, winning a national title and two KNVB Cups during that period. In his last seasons, Babangida was loaned out to Vitesse and Al-Ittihad. The 1996 Olympic champion subsequently played for the Chinese Changchun Yatai, where he ended his career in 2005.

Babangida’s brother Ibrahim, three years younger, who is said to have died in the accident, was also a professional football player. FC Volendam brought him to the Netherlands in 1997, and Ibrahim would be under contract with that club until 2002. In total he made 38 appearances for the club from the fishing village, scoring six times.