Former Golden Eaglets invitee, Victor Udoh’s bosom friend has revealed that he offered the once-promising attacker a trip to Morocco for summer holiday, but the Nigerian lad opted to travel back home instead, only to die mysteriously in Abuja.
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Sports247 reports that the sorrowful revelation came from Pierre Dwomoh, who played alongside Udoh at Southampton of England, and is now thoroughly heartbroken that his pal did not make the trip to Morocco with him.
Dramatically, Udoh’s death is causing ripples in England and Belgium, where he played for Southampton and Antwerp respectively, as both clubs posted mournful messages on their official websites few hours after news of his death emerged.
The message out of Southampton noted that Udoh spent seven months at with them last year, which made them shocked to learn that he died in Nigeria, after returning home following a busy season with Dynamo Ceske Budejovice of Czech Republic.
Following reports that had died at the age of 21, several British tabloids also rolled out reports indicating that the forward’s death reportedly occurred ‘under suspicious circumstances,’ although details of the cause remain unknown.
Belgian publication, Nieuwsblad added that Udoh was found dead in Abuja, while also noting that he left Southampton after just seven months into his three-and-half-year contract, and didn’t make an appearance at senior level for The Saints.
He departed St Mary’s in September of last year via mutual consent and joined Czech second division club, Dynamo Ceske Budejovice on a three-year deal, as he tried to revive a career that blossomed after he joined Antwerp of Belgium.
Udoh was only 18 years old when Antwerp signed him from Hypebuzz FC of Abuja, following which he went on to twinkle in the Belgian club’s reserve team, scoring 12 goals in 21 games, while also getting his first-team debut at 19.
He went on to make 28 appearances in Belgium before Southampton signed him and Udoh went on to make friends with former Watford midfielder, Pierre Dwomoh, who wondered why his pal died after he preferred seeing his family in Nigeria.
“I woke up to it on Tuesday morning. At first you think something like this happens in your sleep, until you read the message thoroughly and realise: this is real. Some of Victor’s relatives I spoke to confirmed his death.
“A few days ago, I asked about his holiday plans. I am going to Morocco and combining that trip with a training camp I invited him, but he told me he was working hard in Nigeria,” Dwomoh wrote emotionally on Instagram.
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) also expressed shock over the death of Udoh, and the body’s director of communications, Ademola equally noted that the former youth international’s life ended in ‘very unusual circumstances.’
Olajire told ESPN: “We are shocked and saddened beyond words that such a promising life has been cut short in very unusual circumstances. We are awaiting more details, but this is horrendous and heartbreaking.”
Sports247 gathered that Udoh was in Abuja the night before his death, having gone out with friends, but he was found dead the following morning, with suggestions of food or alcohol poisoning, though no official determination has yet been made.
The attacker, whose full name was Victor Akaniyene Udoh, was born in Akwa Ibom State on October 18, 2004 but grew up in Madalla, Abuja, where he returned for the summer holiday to relax, interact with loved ones and distribute freebies.
