Katsina United player Chinedu Ozor

Katsina United have rejected reports that their player, Chinedu Ozor, regained consciousness after he was pronounced dead following his collapse during a pre-season friendly against Niger Tornadoes in Katsina.

The club made this known in a statement posted on its X handle on Wednesday, clarifying the circumstances surrounding the death of the player.

Ozor collapsed during the friendly at the Muhammad Dikko Stadium, Katsina, and subsequently died despite efforts to save him.

The club said reports claiming that the player later regained consciousness were false.

“We have seen reports claiming that Chinedu later regained consciousness back to life. We understand that people desperately wanted this to be true. We all did. But sadly, those reports are not true,” the club said.

Katsina United explained that the confusion started when Ozor’s family requested further medical confirmation before his body was taken to the mortuary.

“In the heartbreaking moments after the incident, Chinedu’s family, overwhelmed by shock and refusing to give up hope, asked for further medical confirmation before his body was taken to the morgue,” the statement said.

The club stressed that the request for further confirmation should not be interpreted as evidence that Ozor survived.

“That moment of hope must not be turned into a story that Chinedu survived.

“He did not regain consciousness. He passed away,” it added.

Katsina United appealed to the public to stop circulating what it described as rumours and unverified reports about the player’s condition.

“So please, we ask from the bottom of our hearts: stop the rumours. Stop the false reports. Stop sharing unverified information,” the club said.

The club said Ozor’s teammates, friends and family were grieving and urged the public to respect the family’s privacy.

“At this moment, what his family needs is compassion, not speculation. What his teammates need is space to grieve. And what Chinedu deserves is to be remembered with dignity,” it said.

The club concluded, “Please let us allow him to rest.”