By Victor Kanayo
Between Wednesday December 21 and Saturday December 24, 2022, two Nigerian footballers – Ebuka Odenigbo and Chinedu Udechukwu have passed on.
Heritage Times HT reports that both were active players in the country’s apex league – Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
While Ebuka aged 21, played for an erstwhile top club Kano Pillars, Chinedu was with Nasarawa United before their sudden demise.
The latest of the deaths occurred on Saturday morning when Ebuka reportedly died on his way to the hospital after he complained of fever.
“After complaining of fever, his illness appeared severe and was rushed to the hospital on Friday night where he gave up,” a source told Heritage Times HT.
Kano Pillars are yet to issue any statement as at the time of filling this report.
The enterprising striker who won National Federation Cup, now known as AITEO Cup had earlier lost his elder brother Kelvin in 2021.
Kelvin was also a striker who played in Belarus.
Ebuka’s sudden demise happened within three days after a former Sunshine stars, Katsina and Nasarawa United player Chinedu Udechukwu passed on in Jos, Plateau state capital after complaining of headache.
Nasarawa United, club he was with before his departure in their statement, described the late attacker as a man full of life.
“Edu”, as he was fondly called, was a young man full of life and great dreams.
”He was also a phenomenal figure as far as club football is concerned in Nigeria having also played for the likes of two-time CAF Champions League winners, Enyimba FC of Aba; Katsina United FC, and Sunshine Stars FC of Akure.
Udechukwu won one NPFL title, made more than 50 appearances in the topflight and scored 13 goals
