Media officer of the senior women national football team, Super Falcon, Gracious Akujobi, has died in Abuja after a brief illness.
Assistant Director, Communications, Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Ademola Olajire, confirmed the sad news to qed.ng in a brief telephone conversation but did not give details of circumstances before and after the death.
News of her death filtered in moments after the teams’ morning training session on Thursday.
The NFF website reports that doctors confirmed Gracious Akujobi dead on arrival at the General Hospital, Maitama, Abuja at about 7am on Thursday after she suddenly took ill at the team’s Parkview Hotel, Zone 1.
She was said to have looked ill and appeared to struggle hard to open the door to her room when some persons noticed her.
The team doctor and physiotherapist and other officials moved quickly to attend to her and then rushed her to the hospital, but she died on the way.
“This is a very tragic occurrence. Gracious (Akujobi) was such an energetic, hardworking officer and her death has come as a terrible shock. Her commitment to the job was never in doubt.
“The NFF is in deep mourning with her family over this tragedy,” said NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi.
She first served as media officer of the Super Falcons in 2011, before she was moved to the U-17 Women National Team in 2012. She was re-instated to the senior team in 2013 and was with the team at the recently concluded 7th FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Canada.
Akujobi was working as sport reporter for PNO Dynamic Media Limited, Publishers of Prompt News Online, while on secondment to the senior female national team.
She joined the team and other officials in camp on Tuesday night ahead of the team’s Olympics Games qualifier against the Equatorial Guinea.
The 37-year-old, who hails from Owerii, Imo State, joined Prompt News Online at its inception in 2013, covering the sports beat.
She had worked briefly as part-time staff at DAAR Communications, owners of AIT and Ray Power FM and 2muchsports.com.
The sad news comes as the Falcons intensify preparations for their 2016 Olympic qualifier against Equatorial Guinea in Abuja this weekend.
Akujobi is said to have lost her immediate younger sister during childbirth recently.
