Police have released the name of the player who was fatally shot after a game at a south Winnipeg soccer complex late Saturday night.
Mohamed Yusuf Abdullahi, 22, of Winnipeg, was shot in the parking lot of the Ralph Cantafio Soccer Complex on Waverley Street at about 11:47 p.m., after a Canada African Cup of Nations match.
Police, including members of the heavily armed tactical support team, were sent to the facility and found the victim suffering from gunshot wounds. Officers gave Abdullahi emergency medical care before he was transported to hospital in critical condition and pronounced dead.
Investigators have determined Abdullahi had just finished playing and was leaving the event.
“Investigators do not believe this was a random shooting and are seeking the public’s assistance. There were approximately 100 spectators present at the game, and someone may have valuable information to assist the investigators,” the Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release Monday, shortly before a news conference on the slaying.
The WPS is asking spectators who saw anything suspicious to call the homicide unit at 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477 (TIPS) or online.
Cup of Nations president Gode Katembo said by phone Sunday that the killing was not sparked by the game.
“After the match, everybody was going home. It had nothing to do with the outcome of the game or the soccer match, but it was just a player, an individual, that was targeted… out of a personal conflict.” he said.
fpcity@freepress.mb.ca