By Kazeem Akande
Ex-Super Eagles International, Edema Fuludu, said he felt the pains of Ibrahim Babangida’s family over the death of the former Nigerian footballer.
The member of the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning team for Nigeria died in a motor accident along the Kaduna-Zaria road on Thursday.
The ex-Super Eagles winger, Tijani Babangida, his wife, son and maid, who were also involved in the accident, are receiving treatment in the hospital.
Fuludu in an interview with NAN on Friday said he had played a novelty match together with the late football player, adding that he would also be missed by members of the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN).
”I don’t really know Ibrahim very well except his elder brother Tijani, but we played a novelty match together once or twice, that was when we met one-on-one.
”We really feel the pain of the family and we pray that God will heal the injured and grant them quick recovery from their pains.
”Ibrahim Babangida will be greatly missed. He has performed very well for his country and his former club and I pray that God grant him eternal rest,” Fuludu said.
Tijani Babangida, 50, is the President of the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) and started his Dutch football career in 1991 at Roda JC.
He played on loan for VVV and then moved to Ajax in 1996. He was under contract with the Amsterdam Club until 2003.
He won the Olympic Gold with Nigeria at the 1996 Games and was part of the ‘Super Eagles’ selection at the 1998 World Cup.
Ibrahim Babangida, 47, won the 1993 World Cup in Japan with Nigeria Under 17.