Joseph Dosu’s miraculous escape: Olympic hero survives another ghastly accident

LAGOS, Nigeria – Former Nigeria national team goalkeeper and Olympic gold medalist Dosu Joseph has miraculously survived his second life-threatening car accident, sources close to the athlete confirmed on Friday.

The incident occurred on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at approximately 6 p.m. local time, when a heavy-duty truck veered off the road and collided with Joseph’s SUV at the Enyo Filling Station just past the Ojodu Berger bus stop on the Lagos-Ibadan Express Way.

Joseph, 51, who was instrumental in Nigeria’s gold medal victory in the Men’s Football Tournament at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, escaped the incident largely unharmed. In a statement released on his social media accounts, Joseph expressed his gratitude: “To God be the glory, another death escaped by Grace and Mercy of God.”

The former goalkeeper was accompanied by a friend, identified only as SM, when the fully-loaded MACK truck, carrying iron and bearing the registration number LND 470 XX, left the road and struck Joseph’s vehicle. The impact left his SUV “crushed beyond repairs,” according to Joseph’s statement.

This harrowing incident marks the second time Joseph has narrowly escaped death in a vehicular accident. In 1997, just months after his Olympic triumph and shortly after helping Julius Berger FC clinch the Nigeria FA Cup, Joseph was involved in a severe car crash on Ikorodu Road, Lagos. That accident not only cut short his promising career at the age of 23 but also left him with significant spinal cord injuries, effectively ending his time with Serie A club Reggiana.

Local authorities have confirmed that the case has been reported to the Isheri Police Station in Ogun State. The truck driver is currently in police custody, and the vehicle has been impounded as part of the ongoing investigation.

In a concerning development, Joseph stated that the truck’s owner has informed him that repairs to his severely damaged SUV cannot be undertaken for at least a year, raising questions about compensation and liability in the aftermath of such incidents.