Abakaliki FC Bus Involved In Road Accident While Returning From President’s Cup Final In Lagos
A bus transporting players and officials of Abakaliki Football Club was involved in a road accident early Sunday morning while returning from Lagos State, according to SaharaReporters.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
The incident occurred less than 24 hours after the team participated in the President’s Federation Cup final, held at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos, where they narrowly lost to Kwara United in a penalty shootout.
Sources close to the team confirmed the accident and said it bore similarities to a recent incident involving Kano travellers.
“This was more like what happened to the Kano people a few weeks ago. And the state governors watched the match on Saturday,” one of the sources told SaharaReporters on Sunday.
Abakaliki FC had travelled to Lagos for the highly anticipated cup final, which drew attention from across the country, including the attendance of several state governors.
Despite putting up a spirited performance, the team fell short in the game’s final moments.
The accident is the latest in a series of transportation-related incidents involving Nigerian football teams, raising renewed concerns about the safety of teams travelling by road across long distances for major fixtures.
Officials of Abakaliki FC have yet to release a formal statement, but a team source confirmed that all players and staff were safe and accounted for.
On May 31, 2025, SaharaReporters reported that a devastating accident had claimed the lives of at least 19 members of the Kano State contingent who were returning from the National Sports Festival in Ogun State.
SaharaReporters learned that the incident occurred on Saturday, May 31, 2025, around 9:00 a.m. in the Kura Local Government Area of Kano State.
According to eyewitnesses, the vehicle carrying about 35 passengers, mainly athletes and officials, fell off a bridge, resulting in a devastating crash.
The bus was the last of eight vehicles travelling with the Kano contingent.
The accident resulted in 19 fatalities, while several others sustained injuries and were rushed to the Kura General Hospital for emergency treatment.
