Ajax Amsterdam has announced a crowdfunding campaign to support former player Tijani Babangida, who recently endured the tragic loss of his family in a car accident.
The club revealed the initiative, stating the severe impact of the May 9 crash along the Kaduna-Zaria highway.
Babangida, who spent seven years at Ajax, was in the car with his younger brother, Ibrahim, his wife, son, and maid when the accident occurred.
Ibrahim tragically died on the spot, while Babangida’s one-year-old son, Fadil, succumbed to his injuries a few days later.
His wife suffered significant injuries, including the loss of an eye and requiring face reconstruction surgery. The maid also fractured a leg in the incident.
Since the crash, Babangida and his wife have relocated to the Netherlands, where she is receiving medical care.
Ajax’s crowdfunding campaign, initiated by Babangida’s “many good friends from football,” aims to help him cope with the trauma and emotional toll.
In a documentary accompanying the announcement, Ajax described the profound impact of the tragedy.
“Six months ago, Tijani Babangida’s world collapsed. In a serious car accident, he lost his one-and-a-half-year-old son and his younger brother, while his wife was seriously injured.”
Babangida, who played for Ajax from 1993 to 2000, won an Eredivisie title in 1998 and two Dutch Cup trophies scoring 20 goals in 77 appearances for the club adds that he will live with the trauma for the rest of his life.
He said he could not “bear looking at photos and videos of my son” and his wife struggles to remember the name or “anything” about the boy.
“I think I will live with this trauma for the rest of my life. It is hard to forget about it and move on when you suddenly lose your entire family,” Babangida said.
“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.
“It is even harder for my wife. 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.
“And my brother, who always joined me when I travelled. 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.
“After three months in the Netherlands, I was finally able to tell her that our child was in the car when the accident took place. She can’t remember anything about him.”
