Sports embodies human endurance, skill, and dedication, with the pursuit of victory pushing athletes beyond their limits.
Sometimes, the path to greatness comes at an unbearable cost—irreplaceable by trophies, medals, or moments of glory.
The tragic passing of Nigerian light-heavyweight boxer Gabriel Oluwaseun Olanrewaju, known as “Success”, on March 30, 2025, is a stark reminder of the risks athletes face every time they step onto the field, court, or ring.
His bout against Ghana’s Jonathan Mbanugu at the Bukom Boxing Arena was supposed to be another showcase of talent and resilience. Instead, it became his last fight.
The match started like any other, with Olanrewaju landing a few punches before Mbanugu countered with a right hand to the face.
In an instant, everything changed. The Nigerian fighter staggered, collapsed against the ropes, and fell lifeless to the canvas.
Medical teams rushed in, but the battle was already lost. He was later pronounced dead at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
The boxing community mourns yet another warrior taken too soon.
Olanrewaju’s death is not an isolated tragedy. The world of sports has seen too many athletes give everything—sometimes even their lives.
The incident highlights the importance of safety and the need for protection to prevent fatalities in various sports disciplines.
As the latest incident dominates discussions and the outpouring of condolences, The Ghana Report revisits tragic sports deaths that occurred at the peak of the careers of the athletes.
- Raphael Dwamena (aged 28)
Ghanaian striker Raphael Dwamena was once a rising star, but a heart condition cut his career short.
He died in November 2023 after suffering a heart attack on the pitch during a match in Albania.
The 28-year-old was the leading scorer in the Albanian league that season, scoring nine goals for his team, Egnatia.
He had won nine caps for Ghana and was considered a shining light, but Dwamena encountered several cardiac problems over the course of his career.
In 2017, a proposed move to Brighton in the English Premier League fell through after Dwamena failed a medical, and in 2021, he collapsed on the pitch during a game in Austria.
He underwent a heart operation in 2020, having an automatic defibrillator implanted to allow him to continue playing.
Following this operation, he played in the Danish, Austrian, and Swiss leagues before joining the Albanian team KF Egnatia.
- Albert Ebosse Bodjongo (aged 24)
On August 23, 2014, Albert Ebosse Bodjongo, 24, was playing for the Algerian soccer club JS Kabylie at home against another Algerian team, USM Alger.
Albert scored the only goal for his team in their 2-1 loss.
As the home team ran off the field after the defeat, they were pelted with objects by the fans, which allegedly included roof tiles from a nearby construction site.
A short time later, Albert was confirmed dead from a blow to the head that was sufficient to crack his skull and push pieces of it into his brain. Initially, it was determined that Albert had been hit by a heavy, sharp object thrown by the fans.
- Peter Biaksangzuala (aged 23)
In October 2014, the death of Peter Biaksangzuala shocked the world.
Peter, a 23-year-old midfielder for Bethlehem Vengthlang FC, India, was in the 62nd minute of a match against Chanmari West when he scored the game-winning goal.
He then celebrated with a backflip, one he misjudged.
He landed awkwardly on his neck and collapsed on the field. He was rushed to the hospital, where a CT scan determined he had extensive damage to his spinal cord. He lingered for five days before succumbing.
- Tim Hauge (aged 24)
Unsurprisingly, boxing has caused the most athlete deaths.
While the majority are simply the nature of the sport, sometimes poor refereeing factors in mightily.
For example, in 2017, Canadian heavyweight Tim Hague was getting completely trounced by his opponent, Adam Braidwood.
Hague was floored five times in two rounds—the fifth and final fall leading to his death two days later. Letting the fight continue that long was questionable at best.
- Patrick Ekeng (aged 26)
In 2016, a Cameroonian pro footballer named Patrick Ekeng died during a game in Bucharest, Hungary, after collapsing on the field.
Disturbingly, the 26-year-old midfielder went from fully participating one moment to completely sprawling out on his back the next.
- Bruno Boban (aged 25)
In 2018, a 25-year-old Croatian soccer player died on the field after being struck by the ball in his chest.
Initially following the hit, Bruno Boban, a forward with the Croatia League’s NK Marsonia, continued standing—even jogging on the pitch for several seconds.
Then he collapsed.
Medical personnel tried to revive him for 40 minutes but were unsuccessful. An autopsy determined that the ball’s violent impact caused Boban’s heart to seize and ultimately fail.
- Marc-Vivien Foé (aged 28)
On June 26, 2003, Cameroon faced Colombia in the semi-final of the FIFA Confederations Cup at the Gerland Stadium in Lyon.
The “Indomitable Lions” were closing in on victory when tragedy struck—midfielder Marc-Vivien Foé suddenly collapsed on the pitch.
With less than 20 minutes left in the match, excitement was building as Cameroon was on the verge of reaching the final.
When Foé fell to the ground, many initially assumed he was injured or simply exhausted from the tournament’s intensity.
Given his youth and fitness, few considered the possibility of anything more serious. As he lay motionless, uncertainty grew, yet everyone waited for the referee to call for medical assistance.
When Foé did not get up, concern turned to alarm.
The referee halted the match, and confusion spread across the stadium. As medical personnel rushed onto the field and carried him away on a stretcher, his limp arm hanging to the side signalled the gravity of the situation.
Minutes later, the devastating news was confirmed—Marc-Vivien Foé had passed away.
Despite all efforts to resuscitate him, he could not be revived. The shocking loss sent waves of grief through the football world, marking one of the darkest moments in the history of the sport.
2ia6y1