February 07, (THEWILL) – The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, has confirmed that no Nigerian player was affected by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria.
Gusau made the announcement on the verified Instagram page of the football federation, expressing sadness about the tragedy and noting that he had reached out to Nigerian players based in Turkey, who have all confirmed their well-being.
As THEWILL reported, ex-Chelsea and Newcastle winger, Christian Atsu, was reported to have been rescued from under the rubble of a destroyed nine-story building after the earthquake. The Ghanaian international joined Turkish Super Lig club, Hatayspor, last summer.
The earthquake has claimed the lives of hundreds of residents and some footballers. On Tuesday morning, Turkey’s Vice-President, Fuat Oktay, said 3,419 people had been killed in the quake, with another 20,534 injured. The catastrophic event flattened neighbourhoods while families were asleep.
The NFF message on Instagram noted that they are praying for the souls of the departed and commiserating with the people of Turkey, during this difficult time.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
