Former Arsenal target Abdeslam Ouaddou among six people with 'serious injuries' following road traffic incident

Former Arsenal transfer target Abdeslam Ouaddou is among six people nursing serious injuries following a road traffic incident in South Africa.

The 46-year-old is currently in charge of Premier Soccer League outfit Orlando Pirates after taking the first-team role in June of this year.

On the pitch, Ouaddou has made a positive start to life as the Pirates head coach, securing five wins from his opening eight contests in charge.

Orlando's latest success arrived on Sunday afternoon, when they sealed a comfortable 3-0 win at the base of Chippa United.

The Pirates are currently in the midst of a five-game unbeaten run and are scheduled to face Stellenbosch FC in the South Africa 8 Cup on September 13.

???? ?????????

Confirm Road Traffic Incident Involving Members of the Club

? Full Details: https://t.co/jT1ieOBf6L

⚫️⚪️?⭐️#OrlandoPirates #OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/uzWPA69HeV
— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) September 2, 2025

Ex-Arsenal target Abdeslam Ouaddou involved in highway accident

On Tuesday morning (September 2), Orlando Pirates released a statement to their official website due to an incident involving members of staff.

"Orlando Pirates Football Club can confirm that head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou and five members of the club’s staff were involved in a road traffic incident on Sunday night," the announcement reads.

"The incident occurred on the R21 highway as the team returned from Gqeberha, following their hard-fought 3–0 victory against Chippa United.

"Upon encountering a collision between two vehicles, coach Ouaddou and several staff members disembarked from the team bus to assist those involved.

Tragically, while attending to the scene, a Nissan NP200 vehicle collided with the stationary vehicles, striking the group and causing serious injuries.

"Coach Ouaddou, along with the five affected staff members, were immediately transported to hospital, where they are currently receiving medical care. The club is in close contact with the medical team and will provide updates on their recovery in due course.

"At this stage, our priority is the health and wellbeing of our colleagues. The club has made arrangements to ensure that the affected individuals and their families receive all the necessary support during this difficult time.

"We ask for privacy and respect for those involved as they focus on recovery. Further updates will be communicated when appropriate".

Ouaddou's playing career - including an Arsenal snub

Since retiring from professional football at the start of the 2010s, Ouaddou has worked his way up from the assistant coach at Nancy in France to the position of head coach at Orlando Pirates.

The 46-year-old's playing career included a spell in the Premier League at Fulham, where he built a special connection with the fans despite appearing just 38 times for the Cottagers.

Ouaddou rejected a pair of big clubs to link up with the Craven Cottage outfit, with Arsenal and Monaco chasing the signature of the Moroccan centre-back.