Nigeria Leagues
Chaos in Katsina as Ghanaian midfielder attacked by fans after draw in NPFL clash
By Dayo Awoniyi
The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) descended into chaos on Saturday after Ghanaian midfielder Nana Kwame Abraham was brutally attacked by irate fans during Katsina United’s home fixture against Barau FC at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium.
The violence erupted moments after Barau FC’s Orji Kalu netted a 69th-minute equaliser to level the score at 1–1. Furious home supporters stormed the pitch, allegedly targeting Abraham, who had played a key role in the buildup to the goal.
Eyewitnesses described harrowing scenes as the Ghanaian was assaulted amid the pitch invasion.
Shocking images circulating on social media appeared to show Abraham bleeding while teammates and match officials struggled to shield him from the mob.
Barau FC later confirmed on their official X (formerly Twitter) account that the match had been suspended, as security personnel battled to restore order inside the stadium.
Initial reports suggested Abraham had sustained serious injuries, but subsequent updates indicate he is alive and in stable condition — a development that eased initial fears of a fatal outcome.
As of press time, neither Katsina United nor the NPFL had issued official statements on the incident. However, the attack has reignited public outrage over the persistent issue of crowd violence and inadequate security at Nigerian football venues.
The incident follows a similar outbreak of fan disorder in Kano just weeks ago, intensifying calls for the League Management Committee to impose stricter sanctions and strengthen safety protocols to protect players and officials.
Though Abraham’s survival offers relief, the attack underscores the deep-rooted challenges of ensuring safety in Nigeria’s domestic football scene — where passion too often spills into violence.
