It is another tragic day for Nigerian football. 21- year - old&nbsp; Henry Chinonso Ihelewere slumped and died on the pitch, ten minutes after he was introduced, in a friendly game between his club Delta Tulcea and&nbsp; FC Balotesti on Sunday.<br /><br />Medics tried to resuscitate Ihelewere but their efforts were in vain. The cause of his death remains unclear, though the match was played at a temperature of above 40 degrees Celsius which shouldn't be a worry for a player coming from Africa. It is being reported by the Press in Romania that he swallowed his tongue.<br /><br />Former Nigeria youth international Kehinde Fatai was close to Ihelewere, who arrived Romania about five years ago.<br /><br />''Henry is my friend and I knew since childhood. I talked to Delta striker few days ago, during the friendly match that was played against&nbsp; his team. Henry did not play, but sat in the stands. I asked why not change, knowing that my friend has never had serious health problems. He assured me that he is simply not playing because the coach used the other players. I am shocked,'' the Astra Ploiesti forward was quoted as saying by <b>gsp.ro</b>.<br /><br /><span style="">Marian Ivanescu, who officiated the game told gsp.ro: ''I can not believe what happened! It is the first time! I have been a referee since 1994 ... In the 86th minute, I called a foul for Tulcea, at that time I saw their player lying on the ground.<br /><br />''Unfortunately, the stadium intervention cars were not equipped properly. Therefore two ambulances were called, one came after 5 minutes, the second at 7. I have given hydration breaks in the first half, even two. I'm in shock! </span>''<br /><br />Ihelewere had attracted interest from John Ibeh's Pandurii T&acirc;rgu Jiu in the January transfer market. However, the management of Delta Tulcea failed to sanction the move because Pandurii T&acirc;rgu Jiu did not meet the player's valuation.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />