The football community in Nigeria and Uganda has been thrown into mourning following the tragic death of Nigerian footballer Abubakar Lawal. The former Wikki Tourists and Nasarawa United forward lost his life in a fatal motorcycle accident on Entebbe Road in Kampala, Uganda’s capital, on Monday. Lawal, 29, was playing for Ugandan Premier League side Vipers SC at the time of his passing.
Reports from Uganda confirm that the accident occurred early Monday morning, leading to his immediate transfer to a medical facility, where he was later pronounced dead. Vipers SC, in an official statement, expressed their profound grief over the loss of their player, describing his passing as sudden and untimely.
“We are deeply saddened to announce the sudden and untimely passing of our beloved player, Abubakar Lawal, who left us this morning. His body has been transferred to a medical facility for postmortem examination. Funeral arrangements will be communicated in due course. Our thoughts and prayers are with Lawal’s family, club fans, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time,” the club stated.
Tributes have continued to pour in from both Nigerian and Ugandan football clubs, as well as from fans and former teammates who described Lawal as a talented and dedicated footballer. His former Nigerian club, Nasarawa United, also mourned his passing.
“We mourn the sudden demise of our ex-player, Abubakar Lawal, earlier today. May God grant him eternal rest,” Nasarawa United wrote in a condolence message.
Ugandan side UPDF FC, another club in the country’s top division, also expressed their condolences, acknowledging Lawal’s impact in Ugandan football.
“The entire UPDF FC family is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Vipers SC forward Abubakar Lawal, who passed away in a motorbike accident. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Vipers SC, the family of the deceased, and the entire football fraternity,” UPDF FC stated.
Lawal’s football journey saw him rise through the ranks in Nigerian football, starting with Wikki Tourists before moving to Nasarawa United in 2019. He later took his talents beyond Nigeria, joining Rwandan side AS Kigali in 2020. After two seasons in Rwanda, he secured a move to Uganda, where he signed with Vipers SC, a club known for its dominance in Ugandan football.
His tragic passing has left the football community in shock, with many remembering him as a committed professional who gave his all on the pitch. The details of his funeral arrangements are expected to be communicated in the coming days. Meanwhile, fans and colleagues continue to pay tribute to a player whose career was cut short in its prime.
