Olubayo’s Death Stuns Nigerians

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

The 25 year-old was killed in a car crash in Greece on Monday while driving to the airport. He was on his way to Nigeria to finalise arrangements for his wedding.

Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia, who has coached the defender since his Under 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.”

Nigeria Football Federation (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.

 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 finalise his marriage plans.