Soccer Star Dies at 27 After Collapsing During Pre-Season Game: ‘Words Simply Fail Us’

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Nigerian soccer player Chinedu Ozor collapsed while playing for Katsina United on Tuesday, Aug. 11

He was later pronounced dead at the hospital

Inaccurate reports claimed that Ozor showed signs of life in the hospital's morgue, prompting his team to deny the claims

A Nigerian soccer star has died after experiencing a "medical emergency" during an exhibition game.

On Tuesday, Aug. 11, Chinedu Ozor collapsed while playing against Niger Tornadoes at the Muhammad Dikko Stadium in Katsina, northern Nigeria, his Katsina United team announced on X.

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A media officer for his soccer club told local broadcaster Channels Television that 27-year-old Ozor collapsed nine minutes into the game. He was later pronounced dead at the K-Dara Specialist Hospital in Katsina.

"Our thoughts, prayers, and strength are with his family and loved ones," the team wrote in its X statement. "Rest on Warrior."

Following Ozor's death, several national and international outlets, including the Lagos-based Guardian, reported that the soccer player showed apparent signs of life before he was pronounced dead.

The Lagos-based Guardian added that a morgue attendant said he saw Ozor's hands move and alerted coworkers, after which he was taken back to the hospital and given oxygen.

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The erroneous reports prompted Katsina United to release another statement confirming Ozor's death.

"There are moments when words simply fail us," the team wrote on X. "This is one of those moments."

"We have seen reports claiming that Chinedu later regained consciousness or 'came back to life.' We understand that people desperately wanted this to be true. We all did. But sadly, those reports are not true," the statement continued.

"At this moment, what his family needs is compassion, not speculation. What his teammates need is space to grieve. And what Chinedu deserves is to be remembered with dignity."

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PEOPLE reached out to Katsina United for comment but did not immediately hear back.

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Katsina State Governor Malam Dikko Umaru Radda also paid tribute to Ozor, per local outlet Daily Independent.

"It is particularly painful that a young footballer with a promising career has lost his life at such a time," he said.

"On behalf of the government and people of Katsina State, I extend our condolences to the family of [Chinedu Ozor], Katsina United FC, his teammates, coaches, management, supporters, Kano Pillars FC, and the entire football community."

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