ZAMBIAN DOCTOR DIES AT WORLD CUP RIOT – Dr. Kabungo was beaten claims Ghanaian Journalist

Written by on March 31, 2022

By MICHAEL MIYOBA

A ZAMBIAN doctor has died in tragic cricumstances during a World Cup qualifier between Nigeria and Ghana when Nigerian fans rioted after their team’s failure to qualify for Qatar.

Dr Joseph Kabungo was CAF/FIFA medical officer.  He was formerly Chipolopolo team doctor. 

A Ghanaian sports journalist, Collins Atta Poku says Kabungo was beaten before losing consciousness and eventually dying in the aftermath of a World Cup qualifier between Nigeria and Ghana.

Poku, who was at the venue where violence erupted at the end of the match in Abuja after Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2022 Qatar World Cup, gave a vivid account of the sad incident which resulted in the former Chipolopolo team doctor’s death.

Paku said Nigerian fans beat and stepped on the Zambian doctor as they protested their team’s failure to qualify for the World Cup after a 1-1 draw with the Black Stars who qualified via an away-goal rule after the first leg ended goalless.

“They beat him, he fell and they stomped on him. He lost consciousness and was rushed to an ambulance closer to the Ghana dressing room for CPR. The entire Ghanaian contingent watched on as resuscitation attempts were made with an oxygen mask. He was taken to hospital later and now this. Sad,” Paku said.

Dr. Kabungo

However other reports suggest that Dr. Kabungo who was the Doping Officer for the match involving Nigeria and Ghana was killed during a stampede while other reports suggests that he collapsed following a cardiac arrest.

Meanwhile, Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Andrew Kamanga said FAZ will wait for a full report from CAF and FIFA on what caused Kabungo’s death.

Kamanga said the country had lost one of the game’s leading lights on the continent and beyond. 

“We take note that it is too early to dwell into the nitty-gritty of the cause of his death but will wait for the full report from CAF and FIFA on what exactly transpired,” Kamanga said.

“He was a dedicated and widely loved member of our football community and his impact was vast, having also been part of the 2012 Africa Cup winning team. His death is a huge loss as Dr Kabungo was a friend and confidant to many generations of players and their families.”

Dr Kabungo was a permanent fixture at football events including the FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar which is a precursor for the 2022 World Cup. He was also part of the medical team during the Cameroon 2021 (played in 2022) Africa Cup of Nations.

“He was one of the outstanding Zambian football personalities that flew the Zambian flag at global football events. We all have to learn from his example of excellence and celebrate his legacy by breeding more hard working football Zambian administrators,” Kamanga said.

Dr. Kabungo played for Lusaka City Council Football Club as a goalkeeper. 


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