Colin Udoh, Special to ESPN 15d

Ajax legend Tijani Babangida's brother, son killed in car crash

Ibrahim Babangida, a 1993 FIFA under 17 World Cup champion with Nigeria, was killed in a car crash last Thursday in Kaduna, as was his infant nephew.

His elder brother, former Nigeria international and 1996 Olympic gold medalist Tijani Babangida and his wife were injured in the accident, which happened along the Kaduna-Zaria expressway in northern Nigeria.

According to Kaduna State Police spokesman Mansir Hassan, Ibrahim Babangida [47] died at the scene, while his nephew Fadil, the infant son of  former Ajax Amsterdam player Tijani, died on Friday night during surgery.

"The accident happened close to a Federal Road Safety Commission checkpoint," Hassan told ESPN.

"So an ambulance got to them very quickly. But the injuries were so much that there was nothing they could do to save him [Ibrahim]."

Elder brother Tijani, who is also the president of the Nigerian players union, the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria is still receiving care at a hospital in Abuja.

His wife is still receiving care at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria after undergoing facial surgery.

NFF present Ibrahim Musa Gusau led a delegation that included General Secretary Ibrahim Sanusi, Executive Committee member Timothy Herman Magaji and Technical Director Augustin Eguavoen, to visit Tijani in hospital on Sunday.

"We are devastated to learn of this tragedy and our hearts go to Tijani and his family on this painful loss," Gusau said. "We condole with him on the loss of his son and brother and pray for a quick and full recovery for him and his wife."

The late Babangida is one of three Babangida brothers, including Haruna, who represented Nigeria at international levels.

He shot to prominence as a member of Nigeria's 1993 FIFA Under 17 World Cup winning squad, scoring a brace in the Golden Eaglets 8-0 trouncing of Canada in their opening game of the tournament, where he started in all group games and the quarterfinal.

Ibrahim went on to join Dutch club FC Volendam in 1997, making 51 appearances and scoring seven goals during his time there.

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