Nigeria National League side, Abakaliki FC, has announced the death of its player, Umar Faruq, following a brief illness.
The club confirmed the development in a statement posted on its Facebook page on Thursday, describing the day as a “Black Thursday.”
Expressing grief over the player’s passing, the club said Faruq featured for the team during the 2025/2026 Nigeria National League season.
“With tears in our eyes, we announce the sudden demise of Late Umar Farouq after a brief illness. Farouq, until his death, played for Abakaliki FC during the 2025/2026 NNL season,” the statement read.
The club prayed for the repose of his soul and for strength for his family, teammates and the wider football community to bear the loss.
Before joining Abakaliki FC, Faruq played for Shooting Stars Sports Club.
The circumstances surrounding his illness were not disclosed.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
