Katsina United have confirmed the death of newly signed player, Chinedu Uzor, who collapsed during a pre-season friendly against Niger Tornadoes on Tuesday.
The club, in a statement on Wednesday, dismissed reports that Uzor regained consciousness after being pronounced dead and taken to the morgue.
According to the club, Uzor’s family, unwilling to give up hope, requested that his body be taken to the Intensive Care Unit of a state General Hospital.
Katsina United said the development was a desperate attempt by the family to save their loved one and should not be misinterpreted as evidence that he survived.
“He did not regain consciousness. He passed away,” the club said.
Uzor, who recently joined Katsina United, collapsed during the Gusau/Ahlan Pre-season Cup match at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina.
Jerome Ochigbo, a childhood friend of the player, also confirmed his death, saying Uzor showed no signs of consciousness after spending 24 hours in the ICU.
His body has since been transferred to the morgue and is expected to be taken to Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State, where he built a home for his mother, wife and children.
Ochigbo also said Uzor had no known underlying health condition before the incident.