Tragedy struck the soccer loving community on Wednesday night as four Nigerians died while watching the semi-finals between Nigeria and South Africa in the ongoing African Cup of Nations.
Nigeria won the match against South Africa by 4-2 goals on penalties after regulation and extra time ended 1-1.
A former member of the House of Representatives, who represented the Ika Federal Constituency of Delta State, Cairo Ojougboh, was among the dead.
The politician, who was a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, passed away on Wednesday evening while watching the AFCON semi-finals match between Nigeria and South Africa.
A source close to the medical doctor said, “The incident happened when the penalty was awarded against Nigeria. Dr. Ojougboh shouted and slumped due to a massive heart attack when South Africa scored.”
The Publicity Secretary of Agbor Community Union, Augustine Ekamagule, confirmed the death of the famous Delta politician in a telephone conversation with journalists on Thursday.
He said, “According to the President General of the Agbor Community Union, Chief Laurence Onyeche, Ojougboh died in Abuja while watching the football match of Nigeria vs South Africa.
“He said a member of the Ojougboh family called him around 3am on Thursday, informing him that Cairo Ojougboh had passed away.
“The family member said Ojougboh was watching the match and immediately South Africa scored the goal, he shouted and slumped.
“All efforts to revive him were not fruitful. It was around 3am when the family announced his death.”
Onyeche said with the death of Ojougboh, Agbor has lost a voice in Nigerian politics, describing him as the number one politician in Agbor until his death.
“On behalf of the PG and members of Agbor Community Union where the Ojougboh belongs, we sympathize with the family.
“Our PG has asked me to issue a statement and he described Ojougboh as a fearless politician who did not only establish himself at the local level but at the national level,” he added.
Friends and political associates have also been mourning the late politician on social media.
President Bola Tinubu and the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, have also issued public statements mourning him.
In the same vein, Anambra-born billionaire, Osondu Nwoye, has allegedly died while watching the Super Eagles of Nigeria play against the South African national team.
Nwoye was said to be the richest Igbo businessman based in Ivory Coast before his death.
This was made known in a post by a Facebook user, Chukwudi Iwuchukwu, on Thursday.
According to witnesses, Nwoye was on top of the moon, shouting on top of his voice, when Nigerian striker, Victor Osihmen scored the second goal, which was later cancelled by the Video Assistant Referee.
It was alleged that the shock of seeing the goal cancelled and a penalty awarded to South Africa was too much to bear for his fragile heart, leading to his collapse inside the stadium.
According to the report, he was immediately rushed to the hospital but all efforts to revive him failed as he was pronounced dead.
Similarly, the Deputy Bursar of Kwara State University Malete, Ayuba Abdullahi, died on Wednesday night.
Sources close to the deceased but who spoke on condition of anonymity said Abdullahi went to a sports centre in the Sango area before he started feeling uneasy.
One of the sources said, “The Deputy Bursar watched the Nigeria/South Africa match from the beginning till the end of the extra time, till it was time for a penalty kick.
“He complained that he was feeling dizzy, so he said he needed to go back home and rest, not knowing that his BP had gone up.
“On getting home, he collapsed and was rushed to a private hospital in Sango and he was referred to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital and before he could be attended to, he died.
“He was buried on Thursday morning according to Islamic rites.”
The university’s Director of Information, Saedat Aliyu, confirmed Abdullahi’s death.
Aliyu, however, stated that the cause of death was yet to be ascertained by the management of the university.
“Yes, he died last night. He was hale and hearty and was full of life on Wednesday at his office. May Almighty Allah grant him Aljanah Firdaus” she said
A statement by the university 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.”
In the same vein, a member of the National Youth Service Corps serving in Adamawa State also reportedly died during the game.
The corps member identified only as Samuel from Kaduna State, allegedly passed away just before the final kick which secured Nigeria’s win in the match.
A witness recounted the event on a social media post.
The post read, “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.”
Also, the NYSC Coordinator in Adamawa State, Jingi Dennis, on Thursday, said the corps member was confirmed dead at the General Hospital in Numan.
Dennis 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 the doctor.”
