Lightning Kills Referee During Match In Niger

On Tuesday, a Nigerian referee was killed by lightning during a friendly football match in Madalla, Niger State.

The deceased, commonly known as Mustafa Coach 02 among football fans and a member of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), died tragically during a competition played on the community’s schools’ field.

An eyewitness, Muhammed Musa, stated that the match, in which Madalla and Suleja adolescents were participating, was on a half-time break around 5:20 p.m. when the tragedy occurred.

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“It was raining, and all the footballers, along with their fans, took refuge inside the school’s classrooms,” he said (as cited by Daily Trust). The referee and his helper (a linesman) rushed back onto the field and demanded that the players join them.

“They were the only ones at the center of the pitch when thunder struck. Two of them were rushed to a hospital, where the referee was confirmed dead on arrival while his assistant was revived.”

Ibrahim, a family member of the deceased, said his remains were interred on Wednesday morning in Suleja town, where he lived.