Four Nigerians lost their lives during and after the pulsating AFCON 2023 encounter between the Super Eagles and the Bafana Bafana of South Africa.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria qualified for the final of the 2023 Nations Cup in Ivory Coast after defeating South Africa 4-2 on penalties.
The Three time champions defeated the Bafana Bafana of South Africa 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at regulation time . A 67th minute penalty from Nigeria skipper, Troost Ekong gave Nigeria the lead after a foul on victor osimhen in the 18 yard box.
The Super Eagles scored a second goal but was ruled out for offside by the Video Assistants Referee. In the dying minutes of the game, the South Africans were awarded a penalty after Nigeria’s Alhassan Yusuf fouled Percy Tau in the penalty box. Mokema stepped up and converted the penalty to make the match end 1-1 after regulation time.
Below are the four Nigerians who lost their lives:
KWASU Deputy Bursar
After the encounter, Ayuba Olaitan Abdullahi, the Deputy Bursar of Kwara State University (KWASU) Malete, tragically passed away.
Reports indicate that Abdullahi collapsed while watching the match at a nearby sports center in the Sango area, just a stone throw away from his residence.
Witnesses shared that Ayuba remained glued to the game until the end of extra time, but suddenly felt unwell and was swiftly transported to a nearby private hospital, where he ultimately succumbed to his condition.
“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 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 BP had gone up.
“So, on getting home, he collapsed and he was rushed to a private hospital in Sango and he was referred to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) and before he could be attended to, he died,” the source said.
He was buried on Thursday morning according to Islamic rites. KWASU’s Director of Information Saedat Aliyu also confirmed the development.
Nigerian Businessman Osondu Nwoye
Also, Nigerian Businessman Chief Osondu Nwoye on Wednesday night died while watching the Super Eagles of Nigeria AFCON Semi-Final clash against the South African national team.
Chief Osondu’s death was disclosed in a Facebook post uploaded by a user, Chukwudi Iwuchukw, who said that the businessman from Anambra State, in Nigeria’s southeast, collapsed inside the stadium after the Super Eagles’ second goal was cancelled by referees.
The post reads: “By this time yesterday, High Chief Osondu was still alive, hale, and hearty.
“He travelled to Bourke, the city that hosted the Super Eagles match yesterday, to watch his darling Super Eagles play.
“He loves football and is patriotic for his home country. According to eyewitnesses, the High Chief was on top of the moon, shouting on top of voice, when Victor Osimen scored that second goal, which was later cancelled by VAR.
“May be the shock of seeing the goal cancelled and penalty awarded to South Africa was too much to bear for his fragile heart, which failed immediately, which resulted in the High Chief collapsing inside the stadium.
“All the frenetic efforts to revive him failed, as he was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. While the whole country was rejoicing yesterday, the people of the Amanuike community in Anambra State, where he came from, were mourning.
“They just lost an illustrious person, the richest man in the community, who was an iroko who provided shelter, shade, and succour to many in that community. During his lifetime, his title name was Nwachinemelu of Amanuike.”
Corps Member
Similarly, a member of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, serving in Adamawa State has reportedly died during the penalty shootouts of the match between Nigeria and South Africa on Wednesday evening.
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, The Nation reports.
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.”
Cairo Ojougboh
Additionally, the former executive director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, CCairo Ojougboh, was said to have slumped and died on Wednesday while watching the AFCON semi-finals between Nigeria and South Africa.
