Katsina United player Ozoh Chinedu dies during match

Katsina United Football Club have announced the death of their player, Ozoh Chinedu, who died during a pre-season friendly match on Tuesday.

The player was involved in the club’s Tuesday friendly match against Niger Tornadoes FC at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, Katsina.

Ozoh signed for Katsina United FC after joining from another Northern-based outfit, Kano Pillars FC.

His death was disclosed in a statement titled ‘Sad news: Katsina United player Ozoh Chinedu dies during pre-season friendly,’ by the club’s Media Directorate on Tuesday via its Facebook page.

During the match, Ozoh was rushed to a specialist hospital after a medical emergency.

“The football community in Katsina State and beyond has been thrown into mourning following the sudden death of Ozoh, a newly signed player of Katsina United Football Club and former Kano Pillars FC player.

“Ozoh reportedly passed away in the early hours of Tuesday, August 11, 2026, after he was rushed to K-Dara Specialist Hospital in Katsina following a medical emergency during a friendly match involving Katsina United and Niger Tornadoes FC at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, Katsina.

According to reports, the incident occurred while the two teams were engaged in the pre-season friendly as part of their preparations for the upcoming football season.

“The player was immediately attended to and subsequently rushed to the nearby K-Dara Specialist Hospital for urgent medical attention. However, despite efforts to save his life, Ozoh Chinedu sadly passed away,” the statement partly read.

The club noted that Ozoh’s death came as a shock to the entire football community, especially as the player was revving up for the new football season, adding that the circumstances surrounding the player’s death are yet to be established.

The statement read further, “His death has come as a major shock to his teammates, coaching crew, club management, supporters and the wider football community, particularly coming at a time when he had just joined Katsina United and was preparing for the new season.

“Ozoh was previously associated with Kano Pillars FC before making the move to Katsina United, where he was expected to contribute to the club’s campaign in the forthcoming season.

“The circumstances surrounding his sudden death are yet to be fully established, and further details are expected from the club, medical authorities or his family. The football community in Katsina and across Nigeria is now mourning the loss of a young footballer whose career was tragically cut short.”

The club prayed for the family to have the strength to bear the loss, saying, “May God grant his family, teammates, friends, Katsina United FC and the entire football community the strength to bear this painful loss.”