Nigerian Football Player Dies In Action In Romania

Nigerian player Henry Chinonso Ihelewere slumped and died Sunday while playing for his Romanian team Delta Tulcae in a friendly.

The Jos-born midfielder, who is a regular player for Delta Tulcae, gave up the ghost on Sunday morning while in action for his team against a division three team.

Confirming the incident to MTNFootball.com from Romania, his very sorrowful team mate Mansur Razaq confirmed the player, who is popularly known as ‘Awilo’, slumped and died during match.

“Awilo is gone. It is still a mystery to me that he is no more. He died on the field while playing in a friendly match with a division three team in Romania,” lamented a devastated Razaq.

Kehinde Fatai, who played with Ihelewere at FC Farul, told MTNFootball.com he is still in a big shock.

“I am still in shock over Awilo’s death. It is a big loss. I can’t say more than this,” said the former U20 international told MTNFootball.com

Henry Ihelewere was born on July 8, 1991, in Jos and started out with El Kanemi Juniors of Jos, before he left for Romania, where he played for Farul Constanta and later joined Delta Tulcae. He is now one of several Nigerians who have died while in action overseas. Others include Endurance Idahor at Al Merriekh of Sudan as well as Bobsam Elejiko, who was playing in Belgium.