It was a dark matchday in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) following the death of Nasarawa United defender Chineme Martins who passed after slumping during a game against Katsina United at the Lafia Township Stadium on Sunday, March 8, 2019.

Martins it has been confirmed slumped in the second half with Nasarawa United leading 2-0. They went on to win 3-0. 

Efforts were made to resuscitate the player not helped by the old Ambulance that failed to start and needed five persons to push it according to several reports. 

The defender was rushed to the Dalhatu- Araf Specialist Hospital in Lafia where he was pronounced dead. 

“We lost a player today against @fckatsinaunited A great professional and a gentleman,” Nasarawa United confirmed on Twitter.  

The League Management Company (LMC) organisers of the NPFL also confirmed the death of the defender.

“The League Management Company (LMC) has confirmed the report of the death of Chineme Martins, a defender with Nasarawa United FC, who slumped during the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Matchday 23 against Katsina United in Lafia,” the LMC said in a statement on their website. 

The LMC in their statement also called for a standard autopsy to establish the cause of the player’s death.

“It is hoped that the findings of the autopsy would inform subsequent measures if any that has not been addressed by the existing standard procedure”, the LMC said. 

Several clips shared on Twitter have Martins teammates in tears as they mourn the shocking death of the defender