No fewer than four people died during the Wednesday’s tension-soaked semi-final match between the Super Eagles and the Bafana Bafana of South Africa in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2023).
The decisive encounter between Super Eagles and Bafana Bafana, brought immeasurable excitement to most Nigerians, including football administrators but an unforgettable sorrow to four Nigerian families.
The game which ended in a 4-2 penalty shootout in favour of Super Eagles but left sour taste in the mouth of families of the four that died while watching the match.
The four that died included an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Dr. Cairo Ojougboh.
Ojougboh was a former House of Representatives member and Executive Director (Project), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Others are Deputy Bursar of Kwara State University (KWASU), Abdullahi Ayuba, National Youth Service Corps member simply identified as Samuel, and a businessman, Osondu Nwoye. Ojougboh slumped when the referee cancelled Nigeria’s second goal and awarded a penalty to the South Africans while he became uncomfortable during the extra-time.
He was said to have passed on before getting to the hospital .
Samuel also died during the penalty shootout.
Nwoye, a Cote d’ Ivoire businessman also died when Nigeria’s second goal was annulled.
“As soon as a penalty kick was awarded against Nigeria during the match, the outspoken APC chieftain slumped,” said a source.
The Nation gathered that the KWASU deputy bursar omplained of dizziness and requested assistance from people to take him home.
A source said: “Ayuba 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 kick, he complained that he was feeling dizzy, so he said he needed 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 a private hospital in Sango from where he was referred to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) and before he could be attended to, he died.”
He was buried yesterday morning according to Islamic rites. KWASU Spokesperson, Dr. Saedat Aliyu, said that the deputy bursar was hale and hearty when he came to work on Wednesday.
“The deputy bursar was hale and hearty and was full of life on Wednesday in his office. May Almighty Allah grant him Aljanah Firdaus,” she added.
Aliyu, in a statement issued later, said: “This is to announce the death of Mr. Ayuba Olaitan Abdullahi of the Bursary Department. Janazah will be held this morning, and his remains will be interred at the Hausa Muslim cemetery, Apata Yakuba, Oyun area, Ilorin, at 9 am. May Allah forgive all his sins and grant him Aljannah Firdaus.”
A witness gave an account of how the Kaduna State-born Youth Corps member died on his social media handle.
He wrote: “We lost one Nigerian during our victory celebration over South Africa at our sports viewing centre here in Numan. The Corps member who is serving in Numan from Kaduna State fainted before the kick of the winning goal. He died before they could reach the hospital in Numan. May his soul rest in peace.”
NYSC Coordinator in Adamawa State, Jingi Dennis, gave insight into how Samuel died.
He said: “I received the news of his death last night. I hope to have more details today.
“According to his colleagues who went with him to watch the match, the late Corps member told the people around him that he did not like watching penalty shootouts. He then bowed his head and all of a sudden, he collapsed. He was confirmed dead at the General Hospital in Numan by a doctor.”
“According to his colleagues who went with him to watch the match, the late Corps member told the people around him that he did not like watching penalty shootouts. He then bowed his head and all of a sudden, he collapsed. He was confirmed dead at the General Hospital in Numan by a doctor.”
The death of Nwoye, an Umueze, Amanuke-born billionaire threw his community into mourning.
Nwoye, according to his kinsmen, was à philanthropist of high repute, not only in the sleepy Amanuke community but in the entire Awka North council area.
