Ayisat Yusuf Football Academy confirm death of a player and multiple injuries in bus accident

The Ayisat Yusuf Football Academy has confirmed the death of one of its players following a road accident involving members of the team while travelling to Lagos for a league fixture.

Several other players sustained injuries in the incident, while the team’s driver was also seriously affected, according to the academy’s founder and Chief Executive Officer, former Nigerian international Ayisat Yusuf.

In a statement, Yusuf disclosed that the team was travelling from Ikenne, Ogun State, to honour a league fixture at the Olympic Pitch, Sonya, Ijesha, Lagos State, when the accident occurred.

Although she did not disclose the identity of the deceased player or provide further details about the circumstances surrounding the crash, the former Super Falcons assistant coach described the incident as a devastating loss for the academy.

Yusuf emphasised that the players were more than just members of a football team, describing them as family and an integral part of the academy’s development.

“Beyond being members of a football team, these girls are our children, our family and a huge part of everything we have built together.

“Losing one of them is a pain that is difficult to put into words, and our hearts are particularly heavy for the family of our departed girl,” she said.

She further disclosed that some of the injured players required urgent medical attention and additional investigations.

The academy founder extended her condolences to the family of the deceased player and appealed to the football community and the general public to support the affected players and their families during the difficult period.

She also assured that the academy remained committed to the welfare and recovery of the injured players and driver, promising to provide further updates as more information becomes available.

The tragedy has once again brought attention to the recurring road accidents involving Nigerian football teams and sports contingents travelling across the country for competitions.

On October 15, 2026, Nigeria National League (NNL) side Crown FC were involved in a road accident while travelling to participate in a pre-season tournament.

Although no player died at the scene, the club’s 54-year-old driver, Yinusa Popoola Amole, also known as Yinusa Olalomi, later succumbed to injuries sustained in the accident.

In August 2024, Heartland FC head coach Christian Obi died from injuries sustained when the club’s team bus was involved in an accident in Okigwe, Imo State, while travelling to a pre-season tournament in Ebonyi State. Several players and officials were also injured.

Two months later, in October 2024, several Kano Pillars Under-19 players and their driver sustained injuries when their team bus was involved in an accident while travelling to Jos for a youth league fixture. No fatalities were reported.

Earlier, in March 2020, Rangers International striker Ifeanyi George and two of his teammates lost their lives in a road accident along the Benin-Ore Expressway while travelling to Lagos following the suspension of the Nigeria Professional Football League.

These incidents have continued to raise questions about the safety arrangements, transportation standards and welfare of footballers and officials travelling by road to fulfil sporting commitments in Nigeria.

For the Ayisat Yusuf Football Academy, however, the immediate concern remains the recovery of the injured players and driver, alongside providing support to the family of the player who lost her life in the tragic accident.