A member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in Adamawa state slumped and died Wednesday night while watching the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semifinals penalty shootout between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.
The deceased, identified as Samuel, was watching the tensed after-match shootout with his colleagues when he suddenly bowed his head and collapsed to the ground.
This happened shortly before the final goal that sealed Nigeria’s victory against South Africa.
He was confirmed dead at the General Hospital in Numan where his colleagues rushed him to.
According to a Facebook user, Rosé Nya Gassa Philip, in a post on Thursday, February 8, the late Corps member was from Kaduna state, serving in Numan, Adamawa state.
She wrote:
“It was just reported by Shefeeg Bin Alin
“Please if you know you have BP, stop watching tension football matches, you can hear the result later. Guide your health and life please.
“We lost one Nigerian few minutes ago during our victory celebration over south Africa today In our sport viewing center (svc) here in numan.
“The corp member who is serving in numan from kaduna has fainted before the kick of the winning goal. He died in general hospital numan.
“May his soul rest in peace.”
Confirming the sad incident, the NYSC Coordinator in the state, Mr. Jingi Dennis said doctors at the hospital confirmed him dead.
“l 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 doesn’t 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,” Mr. Dennis said.
Other Reported Death Incidents Associated with the AFCON Semifinals
News Central reported earlier on Thursday that two other people died while watching the AFCON semifinals Wednesday night.
Mr. Cairo Ojougboh, former House of Representatives member representing Ika Federal Constituency between 2003 and 2007 and immediate past Director of Projects on the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), slumped and died while watching the match, according to a family source.
Alhaji Ayuba Abdullahi, the Deputy Bursar of Kwara State University (KWASU) Malete also died while watching the died. Sources disclosed that the KWASU Deputy Bursar started feeling uneasy during the penalty shootout, then opted to head home immediately.
“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 source disclosed.
Nigeria moved to the AFCON finals after defeating South Africa 4-2 on penalties. The country will play against Ivory Coast on February 11 in the finals.