The sudden death of Shooting Stars coach Akin Olowookere has sparked calls for urgent reforms in Nigerian football, with former Sunshine Stars gaffer Adepoju Banjo Ayodeji urging league authorities to mandate comprehensive medical tests for all coaches as part of team registration.

Adepoju — who has managed Sunshine Stars, Rising Stars FC, Adamimogo FC, and Akure City FC, and now serves as Secretary of the Ondo State Football Coaches Association — said the move is long overdue and could save lives. He stressed that regular health screening would give coaches and backroom staff a clearer picture of their medical conditions, enabling early intervention where necessary.

His comments follow Olowookere’s tragic collapse and death in the early hours of Monday, August 11, 2025 — a loss that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s football community. Adepoju, visibly shaken, offered prayers for the deceased’s family and urged football’s governing bodies to act before another preventable tragedy strikes.

“This is not just about coaches on the touchline,” Adepoju noted. “Physios, trainers, and even team administrators who go through the same stresses of the game should also be part of these mandatory checks.”

Stakeholders say the proposal could become a watershed moment for Nigerian football’s welfare policies, if the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) and other governing bodies are willing to push it through.