PLAYERS and officials of Heartland FC of Owerri were involved in a road accident on Wednesday afternoon in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
The Naze Millionaires were billed to engage the El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri in a rescheduled Match Day 35 fixture on Thursday (September 16) before the accident.
According to Cajetan Nkwopara, the media officer of Heartland FC, the accident happened within Maiduguri metroplois after the bus conveying the players and the officials of the team hit a vehicle belonging to the Nigerian Army.
The team had travelled by air from Abuja to Maiduguri airport, where the ill-fated bus had gone to pick the players and officials before the accident occurred, according to Nkwopara.
“As I am speaking with you now, eight of our players are on admission at the Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri, with a few of the injured officials,” Nkwopara told Sporting Tribune by phone.
Among the injured players on admission, according to the Heartland FC media officer, is goalkeeper Ebere Obi, brother to Super Eagles captain, John Obi Mikel.
The team’s Team Manager and former Golden Eaglets defender, Mobi Oparaku is also on admission at the hospital.