Super Eagles midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, narrowly escaped injury after being involved in a car accident in Rome last Saturday.
The incident occurred just two days before his team, Lazio, faced Inter Milan in a Serie A clash.
The accident, which took place in a high-traffic area, was initially kept under wraps but gained attention after reports surfaced on social media.
Dele-Bashiru, who was behind the wheel of a Lamborghini, fortunately walked away unscathed, though the luxury car suffered extensive damage.
His Lazio teammate, Noslin, arrived at the scene shortly after the crash and ensured Dele-Bashiru was safely taken home.
Despite the incident, the 24-year-old midfielder showed remarkable resolve.
He trained with the team as usual and even featured as a second-half substitute in Lazio’s 6-0 defeat to Inter Milan at the Stadio Olimpico.
Car accidents involving Nigerian footballers in recent years
Dele-Bashiru’s accident adds to a troubling list of car crashes involving Nigerian footballers in recent years.
While some incidents ended in tragedy, others were fortunate to have survivors who lived to tell the tale.
Here are four other Nigerian footballers who have been involved in car accidents this year and in years past.
Tijani Babangida (2024)
Former Super Eagles winger Tijani Babangida was involved in a devastating car crash earlier this year along the Kaduna-Zaria expressway in the North-western region of Nigeria
The accident claimed the lives of his brother, Ibrahim Babangida, and his infant son.
Tragically, his wife sustained severe facial injuries that led to the loss of one eye, while their maid suffered broken bones.
Although Tijani survived, the emotional and physical toll has been immense.
He has since temporarily relocated to the Netherlands, where his former clubs Ajax Amsterdam and Roda have stepped in to support his rehabilitation and recovery.
A crowdfund was announced last week to help him pay his hospital bills and help him back on his feet.
Joseph Dosu (1997 & 2024)
Joseph Dosu, Nigeria’s Olympic gold-winning goalkeeper in 1996, has endured multiple auto accidents.
In 1997, just months after his heroics at the Atlanta Olympics, Dosu’s career was tragically cut short when he was involved in a crash along Lagos-Ikorodu Road.
The accident left him with severe injuries, ending his promising career at Serie A side Reggiana and his time with the national team.
In 2024, Dosu narrowly escaped another crash. While waiting to purchase fuel at a station, a truck lost control and crashed into his car, reducing it to wreckage.
Miraculously, Dosu emerged unhurt, escaping what could have been another tragic episode.
Adefemi Olubayo (2011)
Adefemi Olubayo, a promising defender and member of Nigeria’s 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup silver-winning team, tragically lost his life in a car accident in 2011.
Olubayo was driving on the Egnatia motorway in Greece, heading to the Salonika airport to finalize his wedding plans in Nigeria.
Reports revealed that bad weather caused his car to skid off the road, resulting in the fatal crash.
Olubayo, who also represented Nigeria at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and earned five senior caps, passed away at just 25 years old, cutting short a career filled with promise.
Victor Boniface (2024)
Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface also had a close call earlier this year.
Just hours after leading Bayer Leverkusen to victory against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga, Boniface was involved in a car accident.
This incident followed a chaotic experience in Libya, where he and the Super Eagles squad were briefly stranded during an AFCON qualifying trip.
Boniface, who was in the car with others, escaped with minor injuries and returned to action a few days later.
