OBITUARY
Nigerian Football Mourns Former NFA President Ibrahim Galadima
Nigerian football has been thrown into mourning following the death of former President of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima, who passed away on Saturday, bringing to a close decades of distinguished service to sports administration in the country.
Galadima, widely regarded as one of the most respected figures in Nigerian sports governance, served as President of the NFA between 2002 and 2006, a period marked by significant administrative influence and steady leadership within the nation’s football ecosystem.
His death has elicited tributes from across the sporting community, with current Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, describing the loss as deeply painful and far-reaching.
“This is another one that hit us hard. Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima was a mentor to so many of us who are in various leadership positions in Nigerian sports today. He was the epitome of high dignity, diligence and integrity,” Gusau said.
“We will miss his fatherly advice and words of wisdom dearly. Our prayer is that the Almighty Allah will grant him eternal rest and grant the family he has left behind and the Nigerian football family the fortitude to bear the big loss.”
Born on June 14, 1951, in Kano, Galadima’s life was deeply intertwined with sports administration, spanning several decades and multiple leadership roles at both state and national levels.
He began his journey in football administration as Chairman of the Kano State Football Association between 1977 and 1979, before rising to become Executive Chairman of the Kano State Sports Council from 1981 to 1983. His administrative acumen soon earned him national recognition, leading to his appointment as a member of the Caretaker Committee of the National Sports Commission in 1984.
Galadima’s influence extended beyond football into the broader Olympic movement. Between 1985 and 1987, he served as 1st Vice President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, contributing to the development and coordination of multi-sport activities in the country.
In the late 1980s, he transitioned into public service, holding key positions in Kano State as Commissioner for Social Welfare, Youth and Sports, and later as Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport, further demonstrating his versatility and leadership capacity.
His involvement in international football infrastructure planning was also notable. Galadima served as a member of the Presidential Monitoring Committee for Stadia Development ahead of the FIFA World Youth Championship, initially scheduled to be hosted by Nigeria in 1995. Although the tournament was later moved due to health concerns, he played a significant role when Nigeria eventually hosted the competition in 1999, serving as Chairman of the Kano Sub-seat.
Throughout his career, Galadima earned a reputation for discipline, integrity, and a deep commitment to the growth of Nigerian sports. Many within the football fraternity credit him as a mentor whose guidance helped shape a generation of sports administrators.
His passing marks yet another moment of reflection for Nigerian football, which has in recent times lost several prominent figures who contributed immensely to its development.
As tributes continue to pour in, Galadima is remembered not only for the offices he held but for the values he embodied—dignity, service, and an unwavering dedication to the game.
He is survived by his family, associates, and a grateful sporting nation that now mourns one of its finest administrators.
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The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, has expressed deep sorrow following the tragic death of Berekum Chelsea winger, Dominic Frimpong, in a shocking armed robbery incident in Ghana.
Frimpong, aged 20, reportedly lost his life when armed robbers attacked the team bus of Ghana Premier League side Berekum Chelsea as they were returning from a league fixture. The incident has sent shockwaves across the Ghanaian football community and the wider global game.
In a condolence letter addressed to the President of the Ghana Football Association, Kurt Okraku, Motsepe conveyed both his personal grief and that of CAF over the devastating loss.
“It is with profound sadness that I learned of the armed robbery attack on the bus of Berekum Chelsea, returning from a Ghana Premier League fixture, which claimed the life of 20-year-old winger Dominic Frimpong,” Motsepe wrote.
He urged the GFA president to extend CAF’s heartfelt condolences to the late player’s family, friends, and teammates, emphasizing the solidarity of African football during this difficult time.
“Please pass my personal and CAF’s deepest condolences to the family, friends and teammates of Dominic Frimpong and to the Ghana Football Association. CAF is with you during this sad and painful period,” he added.
Frimpong’s untimely death has once again raised concerns over the safety and security of teams travelling for domestic competitions in parts of Africa, with stakeholders calling for urgent measures to protect players and officials.
The Ghanaian football fraternity continues to mourn the promising youngster, whose career has been tragically cut short.
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The Ghana Police Service has provided fresh details on how Berekum Chelsea footballer, Dominic Frimpong, was fatally shot during a robbery attack on the club’s team bus in the Ashanti Region.
In a follow-up statement issued by the Ashanti Regional Police Command on Monday, authorities clarified that the fatal shooting occurred when armed robbers opened fire on the team’s vehicle as it attempted to escape the нападение along the Akyiresu—Kwame Dwumor Sreso (KDS) Road on Sunday night.
According to police, six armed men—three carrying pump-action guns—ambushed the VIP bus transporting about 30 players and officials from Samreboi to Berekum at approximately 10:30 p.m.
The driver, upon spotting the attackers, reportedly tried to speed away from the scene. However, the assailants fired multiple shots at the moving vehicle, causing panic on board and forcing the bus off the road into a nearby bush.
It was during this exchange that Frimpong sustained gunshot wounds.
Police said the injured player was immediately rushed to the Bibiani Government Hospital, but he later died while receiving treatment.
The statement further revealed that the attackers succeeded in robbing one of the passengers, George Owusu Afriyie, of GH¢4,500 amid the chaos.
Investigators who visited the scene recovered two spent BB cartridges, believed to have been fired during the attack, as part of efforts to piece together the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The Police Command confirmed that additional security personnel and crime scene experts have since been deployed to the area, while a manhunt is ongoing to apprehend the suspects.
Authorities have assured the public that those responsible for the нападение and the death of the footballer will be brought to justice.
The latest police account provides a clearer picture of the tragic sequence of events, intensifying concerns over the safety of teams and travellers on major highways, especially during night journeys.
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Berekum Chelsea winger Dominic Frimpong has been killed during an armed robbery on his side’s team bus as they returned from an away match in the Ghana Premier League on Sunday, the country’s football association (GFA) said.
The incident occurred on the Goaso–Bibiani road as the team were heading home from the game against Samartex in Samreboi in the south of the country.
“On our way back to Berekum from Samreboi, our team bus was attacked by a group of armed robbers who blocked the road to prevent our passage,” the club said in a statement on Monday.
“Masked men welding guns and assault rifles, started shooting at our bus as the driver tried to reverse. The players and staff fled into nearby bushes to take cover.”
The Ghanaian FA later said that 20-year-old Frimpong had died in the incident.
“The GFA has received with profound shock and deep sorrow the tragic news of the passing of Dominic Frimpong of Berekum Chelsea Football Club,” they said in a statement.
“This tragic incident is not only a huge loss to Berekum Chelsea but also to Ghana football as a whole. Dominic was a promising young talent whose dedication and passion for the game embodied the spirit of our league.”
It said it would strengthen security arrangements for clubs travelling for domestic competitions.
In a similar incident in 2023, Legon Cities’ team bus was attacked following a game at Samartex, though no one was reported injured.
-Reuters
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