Former World Cup star & Olympic gold medallist survives car crash in Nigeria

Former World Cup star Tijani Babangida has survived the car crash that tragically claimed his younger brother Ibrahim in Nigeria.

Babangida featured 36 times for the Super Eagles during his playing career, with the height of his success coming in 1996, when Nigeria won Olympic gold at Atlanta.

The former winger spent the majority of his European career playing for Ajax, but he also served stints at Roda, VVV-Venlo and Vitesse in the Netherlands.

During his seven-year spell in Amsterdam, Babangida claimed two Dutch Cups and the Eredivisie title.

Since retiring in 2004, Babangida has since lead the Professional Football's Association of Nigeria, serving as the organisation's president.

Babagnida's former international team-mate - and general secretary of PFAN - Emmanuel Babayaro released a statement in the wake of the incident, calling upon the organisation's members to keep the former player in their thoughts.

'Comrades! Let us pray for our president, Tijani Babangida, who has just been involved in a terrible car accident on the Kaduna-Zaria Eoad road,' Babayaro shared on social media.

Ibrahim Babangida, his younger brother, died on the spot from the accident while Mr President and his family were taken to hospital.

'May the soul of Ibrahim Babangida rest in peace with God, amen.

'The accident happened on Thursday afternoon, and (Tijani's) wife was also involved in it. He is currently admitted at Shika hospital in Zaria, where he is receiving treatment. To the glory of God, he is conscious.'

The 50-year-old is believed to be in a serious but stable condition in hospital in Zaria in his home country, alongside his wife, his son, and a family employee.

Babangida is thought to have been involved in a traffic collision on the Zaria-Kaduna Road when the accident occured, according to local reports, and 47-year-old Ibrahim died at the scene.

The younger Babangida - himself a talented youngster who won the Under-17s World Cup with Nigeria - was buried on Friday in his hometown of Kaduna.

While Ibrahim was unable to establish himself within the ranks of the Super Eagles, he too forged a career in Netherlands, garnering 51 appearances for Dutch side Volendam.

Another of Babangida's gold medal-winning team-mates, Garba Lawal, paid tribute to both men after news of the accident broke.

'Ibrahim Babangida and his brother Tijani Bagabgida are like my brothers,' Lawal told Punch. 'We played at club and national team levels together for years, especially, Ibrahim, we played together at the same club before he moved to Stationery Stores while I joined Julius Berger.

'I called some members of their family, no one among their sisters can say anything because of how sad it is. Our prayer is just that God should grant him eternal rest.

'We are also praying for Tijani’s wife, who is in critical condition, to get well soon and I think Tijani is getting better already because I spoke with him.'

A third Babangida brother, Haruna, also distinguished himself in international football when he became the second-youngest player to feature for Barcelona when he was brought on during a pre-season friendly against AGOVV Apeldoorn in 1998 at the age of 15.

Although he failed to break through at the Camp Nou, spells at Olympiacos, Mainz 05, Vitesse, and Apollon Limassol among other clubs followed.