Players of Abakaliki FC having their medicals
Photos of Abakaliki FC players undergoing medical tests ahead of the new Nigerian football season have gone viral, but not for the reasons the club might have hoped.
The images, meant to show the Ebonyi-based team’s readiness for the campaign, quickly became a source of amusement across social media, with fans questioning the setup and comparing the scene to something out of a hospital ward or a movie set.
Many users joked that the players looked like patients in intensive care rather than professionals preparing for a new season.
Comments poured in from across Africa, where users couldn’t resist turning the photos into a meme fest.
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Despite the online teasing, Abakaliki FC have been one of Nigeria’s fastest-rising sides.
Just eight months after being formed, they reached the 2025 President Federation Cup final, stunning top clubs like Enyimba and Nasarawa United before losing narrowly on penalties to Kwara United.
Their efforts earned each player a ₦1 million reward from Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru.
While their medical photos may have become an internet joke, their football story remains a serious tale of ambition, resilience, and a rapid rise in Nigerian football.
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