Tragedies Trail Super Eagles Victory over South Africa
*Top politician Ojougboh, KWASU deputy bursar, three others confirmed dead from shocks
Duro Ikhazuagbe and Hammed Shittu in Ilorin
No less than five persons have been confirmed to have died from shocks during and after Nigeria’s 4-2 victory over South Africa in the semi final of the 34th Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire.
First, top Nigerian All Progressives Congress chieftain in Delta State, Dr Cairo Ojougboh was reported to have died while watching the Nigeria versus South Africa AFCON clash.
Dr Ojougboh who represented Ika Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives was said to have died from shocks following the cancellation of Victor Osimhen’s goal and the awarding of a penalty to South Africa when VAR review showed that Alhassan Yusuf fouled Bafana Bafana’s Percy Tau in the Nigerian box.
The politician who was a medical doctor was said to have shouted and slumped due to heart attack when South Africa scored to cancel Nigeria’s advantage in that crucial semi final game in Bouake, Côte d’Ivoire.
His death was confirmed by the Publicity Secretary of Agbor Community Union, Mr Augustine Ekamagule.
Elsewhere inside the stadium in Bouake, a Nigerian businessman, Chief Osondu Nwoye was also reported to have collapsed after Super Eagles’s second goal was cancelled by the centre referee.
Nwoye who hailed from Anambra State was confirmed dead in a Facebook post uploaded by his acquaintance, Chukwudi Iwuchukwu.
In Ilorin, the Deputy Bursar of Kwara State University (KWASU) Malete, Alhaji Ayuba Olaitan Abdullahi, also died while watching the semi final football match between Nigeria and South Africa.
THISDAY correspondent reported that the deputy bursar died after he went to watched the match at a Sports Center in Sango area of Ilorin which was very close to his house where the incident occurred.
Eyewitnesses said that the Late Abdullahi watched the game till the end of the extra time when he felt uncomfortable and was rushed to a private hospital in the area where he gave up the ghost.
“The deputy bursar watched the Nigeria/South Africa match from the beginning till the end of the extra time and when it was the time for penalty kicks, he complained that he was feeling dizzy. So he said he needs to go back home and rest not knowing that his Blood Pressure had gone up.
“So on getting home, he collapsed and he was rushed to private hospital in Sango but he was referred to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) and before he could be attended to , he died,” the eye witness recalled.
As a devout Muslim, the late Abdullahi was later buried in Ilorin on Thursday morningaccording to Islamic rites.
Dr. Saedat Aliyu, Director of Information of KWASU confirmed that Ayuba died on Wednesday night.
Aliyu who said that Abdullahi was hale and hearty when he came to work on Wednesday stated that the cause of the death was yet to be ascertained by the management of the University.
In Adamawa, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) identified as Peter Yunana was also reported to have slumped and died while watching the Nigeria versus South Africa AFCON 2023 semi final match.
The State’s NYSC Coordinator,Mr Jingi Dennis also confirmed the death of the serving Corps member.
There was also reports of a fifth person to have died during the semi final match but the identity of the person could not be confirmed by THISDAY.
Nigeria will play host Côte d’Ivoire in the final match of the AFCON 2023 inside the Stade Olympic Alassane Ouattara in Ebimpe area of Abidjan on Sunday to determine the new champions of the African football showpiece.
Defending champions Senegal were sent home in the quarter final.
