A registered referee of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFA), simply identified as Mustafa Coach 02, was reportedly hit by a thunder strike.
He was strike during a friendly football match on Tuesday evening during the match played in the community’s primary and secondary schools’ field.
Sources at the scene off the incident in Madalla town Niger State said, “It was raining and all the footballers along with their fans were taken refuge inside the school’s classrooms. The referee along with his assistant (line man) rushed back to the field, demanding the players to join them.
“They were only at the centre of the pitch when the thunder struck. Two of them were rushed to a hospital, where Sulaiman was confirmed dead on arrival while his assistant was revived.”