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Former Super Eagles winger and Ajax FC player Tijani Babangida has shared his experience following a tragic accident that resulted in the deaths of his one-year-old son, Fadil, and his younger brother, Ibrahim.
The incident occurred on May 9, 2024, on the Kaduna–Zaria Road, leaving Babangida’s wife and maid injured, while he himself suffered injuries to his knees and legs. Ibrahim was buried the next day according to Islamic customs.
In a 14-minute video documentary released on December 12, 2024, on the football club’s website, Babangida referred to the event as a “nightmare.”
He expressed the emotional challenge of coping with the sudden loss of such close family members, stating, “It is hard to forget about it and move on when you suddenly lose your entire family.”
He emphasised the importance of seeking adequate medical treatment for his wife by taking her abroad, highlighting the profound sorrow he feels over the loss of his son.
Babangida also reflected on the grief of losing his brother, who had also represented Nigeria in the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning team and who frequently travelled with him.
“This is a nightmare. I think I will live with this trauma for the rest of my life. It is hard to forget about it and move on when you suddenly lose your entire family. This is my first time talking about the accident because I couldn’t do it. I can’t bear looking at photos and videos of my son.
“It is even harder for my wife. She is an actress in Nigeria, famous in the northern part of the country. After being married a year, we had a baby. And suddenly, he was gone.
“And my brother, who always joined me when I travelled. For me, I only injured my legs and knees. I had to assist my wife. That’s why I came here with my wife to get proper medical treatment. It’s hard.
“After three months in the Netherlands, I was finally able to tell her that our child was in the car when the accident took place. She started [to] ask about his name. She can’t remember anything about him. She’s so strong that she managed to survive,” Babangida said.
The video showed Babangida meeting with his former coach Louis Van Gaal.
