Nigerian journalists involved in a Wednesday accident in Ivory Coast are now in stable condition, recovering from injuries sustained during their coverage of the ongoing tournament. The incident occurred as they were returning from Yamoussoukro to Abidjan after covering Group C and Group D games at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium.
Of the over 50 journalists on board, 11 were Nigerian. The collision with a wall, reportedly at about 2:30 am Ivory Coast time, resulted in injuries for four Nigerians: Muyiwa Adeniyi, an independent photojournalist; Hassan Abdulsalam of Pulse Sports; Victor Olohunferanmi of People’s Gazette; and Seun Oyediji of Kick442.
The journey from Yamoussoukro to Abidjan, spanning approximately 235km, typically takes about three hours. However, the journalists were awakened two-and-a-half hours into the trip by a loud crash. Adeniyi described slipping and finding himself on the bus floor, while Abdulsalam recounted jumping to safety through a window, thinking it was an explosion.
Despite the shock, the response from the police escort and Ivorian authorities was prompt. The injured journalists received medical attention, with Abdulsalam praising the quick arrival of security and ambulances. Images of the damaged bus highlighted the severity of the incident.
Adeniyi mentioned receiving treatment for his injuries, emphasizing the need to obtain prescribed medications. Abdulsalam reported being taken to the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire in Abidjan for a checkup, where injections were administered to alleviate pain.
While some journalists were seriously injured, the overall response and medical attention allowed them to return to work as the tournament progressed into the round of 16 on Saturday.
Quest: Emmanuel kelvin