A member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and a former House of Representatives member died while nervously watching the AFCON 2023 semi-final game between Nigeria and South Africa.
The NYSC member, identified as Samuel from Kaduna State and serving in Adamawa, tragically collapsed and passed away during the intense penalty shootout phase of the match. Eyewitnesses recounted the heartbreaking scene at a sports viewing centre in Numan, where Samuel was watching the game with fellow enthusiasts.
Just moments before the decisive kick that secured Nigeria’s advancement to the final, Samuel, reportedly expressing his discomfort with penalty shootouts, bowed his head and subsequently fainted. Despite efforts to rush him to the hospital, he was pronounced dead upon arrival at the General Hospital in Numan.
“The corps member who is serving in Numan from Kaduna fainted before the kick of the winning goal. He died before they could reach the hospital. May his soul rest in peace,” the NYSC Coordinator in Adamawa State, Mr. Jingi Dennis, confirmed the matter in a telephone conversation Thursday morning.
“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 them that he didn’t like watching penalty shootouts. He then bowed his head, and all of a sudden, he collapsed.”
Mr. Dennis added that he was confirmed dead at the General Hospital in Numan by the doctor.
Meanwhile, a former House of Representatives member representing Delta State’s Ika federal seat, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, met a similar fate on the same evening. Reports revealed that the outspoken politician and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain collapsed while watching the game.
Witnesses disclosed that Dr. Ojougboh slumped as a penalty kick was awarded against Nigeria during the heated match in Bouake, Ivory Coast.
“As soon as a penalty kick was awarded against Nigeria during the AFCON match with South Africa on Wednesday’s semi-final clash in Bouake, Ivory Coast, he slumped,” a source privy to the incident told LEADERSHIP on Thursday.
The news of his death garnered various comments on the internet from other Nigerians. Some of the comments included warnings for those with heart conditions to avoid watching the finals on Sunday.
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