A Nigerian engineer who died while rescuing a drowning woman at Doha’s Sealine Beach on Friday, June 23, 2023, was honoured by members of his local team at a tribute match.
Adewale Akintayo, 40, died on June 17 after jumping into the sea with three others to assist an unnamed woman.
The crew was successful in saving the woman, but Akintayo was subsequently pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
“He was trying to rescue someone on the beach. He got an internal injury and after he came out he collapsed. They tried to give him CPR.. they called the ambulance but before he got to the hospital we lost him,” teammate Sodiq Olawoyin told Doha News.
“He was a very loving brother and his family. Adewale is the kind of person who loves everyone. But no matter how much we loved him, God loves him most. Today we are trying to give him a tribute football match to celebrate him as a footballer, as a team player – to give him a real football celebration,” he added.
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The father of two has resided in Doha since 2011, and while working as a safety engineer in the construction industry, he was an enthusiastic football player who frequently represented a team in the local Qatar Community Football League (QCFL).
The ideal setting for his tribute was the football field, where Akintayo spent endless hours pursuing his love of the sport.
Fans gathered at Doha College on Friday for the tribute game, and the atmosphere was tense. Their faces showed a mix of anguish and appreciation for the incredible act of bravery performed by their late teammate.
The match began with a memorial service for the deceased.
Following the service, the focus switched to the football match, which pitted UCC against Swag FC Doha.
Swag FC dominated the first half, scoring two goals in 40 minutes. The squad would grab a two-nil lead before halftime thanks to Ola and Abdulwaris.
The lead, however, did not last long as UCC came from behind to equalize before the game ended. Nelson Idowu scored a brace to bring his team level, finishing the match in a tie for both clubs.
