By James Moses (9News Nigeria -Jos)
No less than five persons have confirmed to have died from shocks during and after Nigeria’s 4-2 victory over South Africa in the semi final of the 34 African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
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 semi final clash. Dr Ojougboh who represented Ika Federal House of Representatives was said to have died from shocks following the cancellation of Victor Osimhen’s goal and awarding of a penalty to South Africa, when the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) rewiew 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 the tension soaked semi-final game in Bouake, Cote d’ivoire.
His death was confirmed by the Publicity Secretary of Agbor Commuinity Union, Mr Augustine Ekamagule.
Elsewhere, inside the stadium in Bouake, a Nigerian business mogul was reported to have collapsed after Super Eagles’s second goal was cancelled by the Eyptian centre referee, Amin Omar.
Nwoye was a major spare parts dealer and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Group Auto Promotion, Cote d’ivoire, resident in Ivory Coast.
Açcording to reports the Anambra born billionaire, alledgedly died while watching Wednesday’s semi final match between his country and South Africa, as he was shouting and was on top of his voice when Nigerian striker and African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen scored the second goal, which was later cancelled by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
It was alleged that the shock of seeing the goal cancelled and a penalty awarded against Nigeria was too much for him to bear for his fragile heart, leading to his collapsed in the stadium.
A Facebook user, Chukwudi Iwuchukwu who reported the story on Thursday, said Nwoye was immediately rushed to the hospital but all efforts to revive him failed has he was pronounced dead.
Sources also revealed that Deputy Bursary of Kwara State University (KWASU), Ayuba Abdullahi, died after he went to watch the match at a sports centre in Sango area which was very close to his house.
Açcording to the source, Ayuba watched the game till the end of the extra time when he felt uncomfortable and was quickly 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 time of 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 was rushed to a private hospital in Sango and was referred to University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) and before he could be attended to, he died,” the source said.
Also, A National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, identified as Peter Yunana was reportedly to have slumped and died while watching the Nigeria versus South Africa match.
NYSC coordinator in Adamawa State, Jingi Dennis, said the Corps member was confirmed dead at the General Hospital in Numan.
Açcording 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 penalties shootouts and during the process of penalities, he bowed his head and, all of a sudden, he collapsed. He was was confirmed dead at the General Hospital in Numan by the doctor.
Also, a man said to be working as a sales representative with one of the multi national manufacturing companies in Nigeria on Wednesday evening slumped and died while watching the semi final football encounter between Nigeria and the Republic of South Africa in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.
The 43-year-old man, identified as Mikail Osundiji allegedly died as a result of a suspected shock after the centre referee nullified Nigeria’s second goal against South Africa, scored by Victor Osimhen.
9News Nigeria gathered that the Osun -born Osundiji, a father of two, did not show any sign of sickness prior to when he showed up at the football viewing centre located at the Federal Housing Estate (FHE) in Olomoore axis of Abeokuta metropolis to watch the match.
Nigeria will play host Cote d’ivoire in the final match of AFCON 2023 inside the Stade Olympic Alassane Ouattaara 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.
-9News Nigeria.
