A former Croatia international, Nikola Pokrivac, died in a car accident in Karlovac in central Croatia on Friday, the anniversary of the similar death of a Nigerian international footballer, Adefemi Olubayo.

Olubayo died in a car crash while driving on the  A2 motorway at Egnatia Odos, near the city of Kaval in Greece, while on his way to the airport to catch a flight to Nigeria to finalise details of his wedding.

In similar circumstances, the former Croatian footballer died on the same 18 April.

According to information by the Croatian Football Federation (HNS), Pokrivac, who featured for Croatia from 2008 to 2010, was 39 at the time of his death.  

Local media reported that the collision, which involved four vehicles, also killed one other person from a different car.

 Pokrivac was in a vehicle with three teammates from fourth-tier club NK Vojnic, who are injured, two of them critically.

Former Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Pokrivac played for Croatia from 2008 to 2010, earning 15 caps. He also played for Ligue 1 side AS Monaco and Austrian club RB Salzburg.

“It is impossible to find words of comfort in such a shocking and unimaginably sad moment when we have lost a young life,” the HNS said in a statement.

“I can only express my deepest condolences to Nikola’s family and loved ones for this irreparable loss, and the HNS and the Croatian football family will be with them in these most difficult moments,” HNS President Marijan Kustic added.

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Gabon forward Aaron Boupendza has died at 28 following a fall from the 11th floor of a building in China, the Gabonese Football Federation (FEGAFOOT) said on Wednesday.

Boupendza, who joined Zhejiang FC earlier this year, was in good form with four goals in six matches.

“At 28, Boupendza is remembered as a great striker who left a lasting impression at the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon (in 2022),” FEGAFOOT said in a statement.

“Trained at CF Mounana and Bordeaux in France, the Gabonese striker joined the Chinese league after a brief spell in Romania.

“FEGAFOOT and the great family of Gabonese soccer offer their biological family their sincere condolences in this difficult time.”

Authorities in China have launched an investigation to find out whether the fall was an accident, suicide, or the result of foul play, media reports in Romania said.

There was no official confirmation of the cause of death.

“It is with great sadness that I learn of the tragic death of Aaron Boupendza, a talented centre-forward who brought honour to Gabonese soccer,” Gabon President Brice Oligui Nguema said.

“I offer my sincere condolences to his family and friends. May God bless his soul.”

The forward played for several clubs in France, Turkey, Qatar, the United States and China.

-Reuters

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One after the other, they fly away. The Green Eagles are depleting. The Nigerian heroes of 1980 are fast fading out.

Christian Chukwu, their chairman who became the first skipper to lift the then newly donated Africa Cup of Nations, is no more.

He departed just 20 days after the 45th anniversary of the historic 1980 feat.

His death, and that of another national teammate, Charles Bassey, has brought the number of passages to nine. Before Chukwu and Bassey, the dead ones are: Best Ogedegbe who was in goal, Muda Lawal, the scorer of the final goal, Okey Isima, Tunde Bamidele, Aloysius Atuegbu and Martin Eyo.

 Thus only 13 of the 22 heroes of 1980 are alive. Even the coach, Brazil’s Professor Otto Gloria, has passed on. With the charismatic Stephen Keshi also dead in 2016, now two of Nigeria’s three Africa Cup of Nations captains are gone.

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