Nigerian footballer hospitalised after head kick in Spain

Nigerian midfielder Quadri Liameed was knocked unconscious after being kicked in the head during a Spanish second-division match between his club, Sabadell, and Albacete.

The 24-year-old suffered the injury in the 42nd minute of the encounter at the Carlos Belmonte Stadium on Saturday.

The incident occurred when Albacete forward José Corpas attempted a volley but struck Liameed in the head as both players challenged for the ball.

A viral video sighted by PUNCH Online on Wednesday shows the moment the midfielder took the hard hit right outside the box.

Liameed collapsed on the pitch and briefly lost consciousness, prompting medical personnel from both clubs to rush to his aid.

He was fitted with a neck brace, carried off on a stretcher and taken by ambulance to Hospital Quirón Santa Cristina for medical examination.

The moment Liameed was carried off on a stretcher and taken by ambulance to Hospital Quirón Santa Cristina for medical examination. CREDIT: Tribuna

As reported by Tribuna on Sunday, Corpas was shown a straight red card for the challenge, while the match was stopped for about nine minutes.

Sabadell later confirmed that Liameed was conscious and undergoing medical examinations, with the initial test results described as positive.

In an update posted on its X handle on November 1, the club announced that the Nigerian had been discharged from hospital after the medical tests returned positive results.

“The best of the news has arrived!

“@Qlimeed has received medical discharge after all the tests have come out well and will return tonight to Sabadell!

“We want to thank the medical services of @AlbaceteBPSAD for the help received at all times,” the club said.

The former Nigeria U-20 midfielder subsequently returned to Sabadell by car, accompanied by a member of the club’s medical staff.

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November 4, 2026

As reported by Bsnsports on Tuesday, Liameed’s father, Hajji Gafar, confirmed his condition saying, “My son is now in a stable condition and is expected to undergo a Buffalo Concussion Bike Test (BCBT) within the next 48 hours. The Spanish medical team attending to him gave me some encouraging news yesterday, and I am relieved and grateful.

“I also intend to travel to Spain within the next 10 days to personally see Quadri, spend some time with him and support him through this recovery process.”

Despite the incident, Albacete secured a 2-1 victory over Sabadell, having played with 10 men following Corpas’s dismissal.

Born in Lagos on April 8, 2002, Liameed began his football career with Lagos-based 36 Lion FC before moving to Spain.

He later played for Lleida Esportiu before joining Sabadell in July 2025.

According to Tribuna, Corpas could face a ban of between four and 12 matches under Article 102 of the Spanish football disciplinary code if the incident is deemed to have caused serious injury.

The punishment is yet to be determined by the Spanish Football Federation’s Disciplinary Committee.