After former Nigerian captain and football coach, Christian Chukwu, another death has been recorded in the Nigerian sports scene. This follows the death in the ring of Segun Olarenwaju in Ghana.

Boxing icon Obisia Nwankpa, widely known as “Golden Gloves,” has died at the age of 75. He passed away in the early hours of Tuesday, June 3, 2025.

 Nwankpa was a former Olympian, as well as an All-Africa Games and Commonwealth gold medallist. He was also a national coach. Nwankpa was a towering figure in African boxing for over four decades.

He represented Nigeria at the 1972 Munich Olympics. He claimed multiple titles as a professional. Later, he coached Nigeria’s Olympic boxing teams in 2004 and 2008. Nwankpa, who had been battling dementia in recent years, made a final public appearance in September 2024, visibly ailing.

President of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control, Rafiu Ladipo, described the loss as a “big blow.” He called for Nwankpa to be immortalised. Funeral arrangements are pending.

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Manuel Caceres, the drum-pounding Spanish football superfan known worldwide as “Manolo el del Bombo”, died on Thursday at the age of 76, silencing the rhythmic heartbeat that had accompanied Spanish football for over four decades.

With his trademark oversized Basque beret and red number 12 shirt, Caceres became as much a fixture at Spanish matches as the players themselves – a percussive national treasure whose relentless drumming provided La Roja’s unofficial soundtrack.

“My aim is to retire after 12 World Cups, which will make me 77, if Spain qualify for all of them. I’ll be there even if I have to go with a walking stick,” the Spanish fan told Reuters at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

His love affair with the team began when he first travelled abroad to watch Spain play in Cyprus in 1979. The 1982 World Cup on home soil transformed him from a passionate supporter into a cultural phenomenon, with his drum becoming inextricably linked to the Spanish footballing identity.

Caceres ultimately fell two tournaments short of his ambitious goal, attending a total of 10 World Cups but missing the 2022 showpiece in Qatar. His final appearance came at Valencia’s Mestalla stadium during the Nations League quarter-final against the Netherlands in March.

“I’ve given up everything for football – my businesses and everything – but I’m still alive. I’m happy, I can follow Spain wherever I go. What more could I ask for?” he told Reuters at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Such was his fame that the Spanish federation covered his travel and accommodation during the showpiece in Russia, recognising a man whose celebrity often rivalled the players’ themselves.

“One of our most loyal fans has passed away, someone who was always with us through thick and thin. We know you’ll keep rocking our hearts. Rest in peace, Manolo,” the Spanish team wrote on X.

Caceres, who ran a bar opposite the Mestalla stadium for more than 30 years, made big personal and financial sacrifices in service to what he called the great passion of his life: his national team.

-Reuters

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French club AS Jeunesse Aubervilliers has confirmed the death of 14-year-old Senegalese player Ousmane Diaby, who suffered a cardiac arrest during a youth match in Auxerre last weekend.

Diaby collapsed on the pitch and was airlifted to a hospital in Dijon. Despite days of treatment, he passed away on Wednesday morning.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear Ousmane Diaby,” the club said in a statement. “After several days of fighting, Ousmane took his last breath this Wednesday.”

The club has launched a fundraiser to help cover funeral and repatriation costs. By midday, nearly €10,000 had already been raised.

“Ousmane had a huge heart and was always ready to help,” the club added. “He supported his mother daily, helped coach the younger teams, and always had a smile. He will never be forgotten.”

Philippe Diallo, president of the French Football Federation, shared his condolences with the family and the club.

Sudden cardiac death in sport

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) among athletes remains a rare but serious concern in the world of sport.

According to studies, SCD affects approximately 1 in every 40,000 to 80,000 athletes each year. The risk varies by sport and level of competition, with male NCAA Division I basketball players facing a higher estimated rate of 1 in 3,000 annually.

In football, a FIFA-linked study recorded 617 cases of sudden cardiac arrest or unexplained death during or shortly after matches between 2014 and 2018. Many of these incidents were linked to undiagnosed heart conditions, most commonly coronary heart disease.

Among athletes under 35, causes of SCD often include hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, commotio cordis, and congenital heart defects. For those over 35, the leading cause is typically coronary artery disease.

Medical experts continue to stress the need for thorough cardiac screening and emergency plans during training and matches to reduce the risks of sudden cardiac events in sport.

-Morocco World News

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