Ajax has taken a heartfelt step by launching a crowdfunding campaign to assist their former winger, Tijani Babangida, who endured a devastating car accident in May.
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The accident occurred along the Kaduna-Zaria highway, resulting in unimaginable personal losses and injuries to his family. Babangida’s 1.5-year-old son, Fadil, and his younger brother, Ibrahim, tragically lost their lives in the crash.
His wife sustained severe injuries, including losing an eye and undergoing facial reconstruction surgery, while the family maid suffered a fractured leg.
In a documentary released alongside the campaign announcement, Ajax shared the emotional toll the tragedy has had on Babangida and his family. Babangida also opened up for the first time about the heart-wrenching incident and the long-lasting trauma it has caused.
The Heartbreaking Tragedy
In the documentary, Ajax detailed the magnitude of the accident’s impact on Tijani Babangida’s life. “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,” the club stated.
Speaking about his experience, Babangida expressed the difficulty of coping with such a profound loss. “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,” he said.
Babangida also revealed that it took him three months to break the news to his wife about their child’s passing, as she had no recollection of the event.
A Community’s Support
Ajax’s crowdfunding initiative aims to provide much-needed financial and emotional support to Babangida and his family as they recover. His wife, a well-known actress in Northern Nigeria, faces a long road to physical and emotional healing.
Meanwhile, Babangida himself is dealing with injuries to his legs and knees while assisting his wife in her recovery.
Through this campaign, Ajax hopes to alleviate some of the burden and offer a sense of hope to their beloved former player during this challenging time.
