Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Joseph Dosu, recently shared on social media that he narrowly survived a road accident in Lagos. The incident took place near Ojodu Berger at a petrol station where Dosu had stopped to refuel his car.
Dosu posted, “To God be the glory, another escape from death by His Grace and Mercy. My friend and I were at the Enyo filling station, Ojodu Berger, when a truck carrying iron veered off the road and hit my vehicle.”
This is not the first time Dosu has faced such danger. In 1997, a serious car accident ended his promising football career. After playing a key role in Nigeria’s 1996 Olympic gold medal-winning team, Dosu joined Serie A club Reggiana, but the injury from the accident cut his playing days short at just 23 years old.
In a conversation with Vanguard, Dosu reflected on the 1997 accident. He recalled, “After playing against Kenya, I was driving along Ikorodu Road to visit my family. I don’t know exactly what happened, but my car went off the road, and I was severely injured. I thank God I survived, though I ended up on crutches.”
Despite the setbacks, Dosu’s football legacy remains strong. He led Julius Berger to victory in the 1996 Nigerian FA Cup, keeping a clean sheet in the final. As the only home-based player in the Nigerian team at the 1996 Olympics, Dosu became the first-choice goalkeeper, even though he had the least experience.
He represented Nigeria in a few more matches, including a 2-0 win over Burkina Faso during the 1996 World Cup qualifiers and a clean sheet against Morocco in December 1996. His final appearance for the Super Eagles was a match against Kenya in early 1997.
Today, Dosu runs a football club in his name, which recently competed in the 1XBET Cup. Despite the challenges he’s faced, his contributions to Nigerian football continue to inspire many.