Nigerians mourn as family arrives UK

Grief has continued to trail the death of Nigerian footballer, Saburi Adeniji, popularly known as Ola, following revelations that his wife and young daughter arrived in the United Kingdom barely a day after he passed away.

Adeniji, a left winger for Kings Park Rangers Football Club of Sudbury, a non-league side competing in the Eastern Counties League Division One North, died on Friday morning after battling a severe brain stem injury.

The club confirmed his death in a statement on Saturday, noting that the 26-year-old footballer had fought to stay alive until arrangements were completed for his family to travel from Nigeria.

“It is with great sadness that we must announce our number 17 Saburi Adeniji ‘Ola’ passed away yesterday morning.

“He fought so hard to still be here for when his family arrived. His wife and daughter, unfortunately, arrived this morning, a day late,” the club said.

The announcement triggered an outpouring of grief across social media, with Nigerians and members of the UK football community expressing heartbreak over the timing of his family’s arrival and the circumstances surrounding his death.

In a community update shared on X on Saturday, Influencer Benjamin Kuti, popularly known as Oluomo of Derby, who runs a Nigerians in the UK group, wrote, “It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Saburi Olayinka Adeniji, who died yesterday following a severe brain stem injury.

“Sadly, his wife and daughter were unable to say their final goodbyes, as they only arrived in the UK today.”

He added that the family had expressed gratitude to donors who supported the GoFundMe campaign set up during Adeniji’s illness.

“We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who donated to the GoFundMe. The family is truly grateful and deeply appreciates your kindness, support and generosity during this difficult time,” he wrote.

A childhood friend, Oke Samuel (@Sarhmkhinhg), described the late footballer as selfless and family-driven, recalling their shared upbringing.

“We were boys together, running through the same streets, laughing at nothing, dreaming of everything.

“You left Nigeria with hope in your hands, not for pride, but to take care of those you loved. You were brave. You were selfless. You were real,” he wrote.

He added, “Death took you too soon, but it can never take who you were or what you meant to me.”

Reacting to the news, X user @MindOfNaijaLife wrote, “This is absolutely devastating. To think that his wife and little daughter were in the air, rushing to see him, only to arrive one day too late is a pain I can’t even imagine.”

“Saburi ‘Ola’ Adeniji fought so hard to stay until they arrived, but God had other plans,” the post added.

Another user, @Floxybby, described the story as “incredibly heavy”, saying, “To know that his wife and daughter were travelling thousands of miles with hope of a final goodbye, only to arrive just hours after he passed, is heartbreaking.”

Influencer EtiOba also shared photos with Adeniji, including childhood images, posting on Instagram, “Grief is love with nowhere to go. Good night brother. Rest well, Agba.”

Earlier, Kings Park Rangers had publicly disclosed Adeniji’s critical condition and announced the suspension of all club matches in solidarity.

On January 17, the club said, “We are asking everyone to pray for our left winger Saburi Adeniji (Ola). All Kings Park Rangers games will be on hold as we look to support him at his bedside until he is better.”

As his condition deteriorated, the club endorsed a GoFundMe campaign created by Joshua Pollard to raise funds to bring his wife and four-year-old daughter from Nigeria to the UK.

In a detailed statement on the fundraising website, it was revealed that Adeniji was admitted to intensive care at Queen’s Hospital, Romford, on January 15, 2026.

“According to his consultant in critical care, his condition has continued to deteriorate, and he is now considered to be imminently dying.

“Due to the severity of his injury, Saburi has been medically classified as brain dead,” the statement read.

The statement further explained that changes in UK medical law initially delayed the withdrawal of life support, pending further assessments.

“The hospital has compassionately allowed a short window of time to enable Saburi’s family to travel to the UK so they may be with him before he passes naturally on life support or life support is withdrawn,” it added.

Checks on the GoFundMe page by PUNCH Online as of the time of filing this report showed that donations had reached £16,469, representing 97 per cent of the £17,000 target, with over 630 donations, many from Nigerians at home and in the diaspora.

Beyond facilitating the family’s travel, the club said funds raised would support Adeniji’s widow and help secure his daughter’s education.