Abia Warriors goalkeeper Charles Tambe is out of hospital after being shot over the weekend as Nigerian football's dark period continued into April.
The goalkeeper was on a morning workout in the Apata area of Ibadan in south-western Nigeria, as part of a program produced by the club coaches for the squad during the coronavirus shutdown, when he was accosted by three assailants near his home.
Tambe, a Cameroonian national, was relieved of his cell phone and wrist watch, and then shot in the shoulder
"They shot him towards his right hand with a local gun," Warriors sporting director Patrick Ngwaogu said in a club statement.
"But we are grateful to God the bullets just went through and didn't pierce anything vital. He was taken to University College Hospital Ibadan, and the doctors there gave him urgent attention and put him on observation."
Tambe was discharged on Sunday and expressed his gratitude
"I am very grateful to God that I am alive today," he said immediately after his discharge.
"With what happened it is just by the grace of the Almighty God. I'm also grateful to all Nigerians for their concern. I am really grateful to everyone."
Ngwaogu told ESPN the incident was reported to police
"So far, we haven't heard anything from them about apprehending any suspects," he said.
Tambe, 25, becomes the latest player to be involved in the tragedy that has afflicted the Nigeria Professional Football League since the turn of the year.
"It is a very worrying situation for us," League Management Company chairman Shehu Dikko told ESPN.
"We do not know for certain if players are being targeted, or if these are just random incidents. But the safety and security of everybody in the league is a high priority for us.
"What we can do right now is just advise players to be very careful about their personal safety and security."