Tijjani Babangida reflects on tragic loss of family in accident

Former Super Eagles winger Tijjani Babangida has shared his heartbreaking experience of losing family members in a car accident earlier this year.

Babangida opened up about the tragedy in an emotional documentary released by Ajax Amsterdam, the Dutch club where he spent part of his football career.

The accident occurred on May 9 along the Kaduna-Zaria highway while Babangida was traveling with his younger brother, Ibrahim, his wife, one-year-old son, and their maid.

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The crash claimed the life of Ibrahim on the spot, while Babangida’s son, Fadil, passed away from injuries days later. His wife suffered severe facial injuries, losing an eye and undergoing reconstructive surgery, and the maid sustained a fractured leg.

Speaking about the incident, Babangida revealed the emotional toll it has taken on him and his wife.

“I think I will live with this trauma for the rest of my life,” he said. “It is hard to forget about it and move on when you suddenly lose your entire family.”

“This is my first time talking about the accident because I couldn’t do it. I can’t bear looking at photos and videos of my son,” he added.

Babangida described his wife’s struggle to cope, saying she has difficulty remembering anything about their late son.

“She is an actress in Nigeria, famous in the northern part of the country. After being married a year, we had a baby. And suddenly, he was gone,” he said.

The former footballer also recounted his own injuries and his role in assisting his wife’s recovery.

“For me, I only injured my legs and knees. I had to assist my wife. That’s why I came here with my wife to get proper medical treatment,” he explained.

Babangida revealed that it took three months before he could tell his wife that their son had been in the car during the accident.

“She started asking about his name. She can’t remember anything about him,” he said.

The documentary also features conversations with Louis van Gaal and other associates in the Netherlands, highlighting Babangida’s time with Ajax and his efforts to rebuild his life after the tragedy.