There are growing anxieties over the report of several Nigerians that slumped and died while watching the semi-final match of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) between Super Eagles of Nigeria and Bafana Bafana of South Africa with warnings going out that Nigerians should stop watching Super Eagles matches if they suspect having high blood pressure.
So far, three Nigerians have been reported dead for watching the match which needed a penalty shoot-out before a winner could emerge.
Cairo Ojougboh, a former Executive Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), slumped and died while watching the game, a member of the National Youth Service Corps serving in Adamawa State also reportedly died during the penalty shootouts of the same match while reports also emerged that the Deputy Bursar of Kwara State University (KWASU) Malete, Alhaji Ayuba Abdullahi, has passed away during the match.
In the case of Ojougboh, a source close to the politician stated, “Cairo Ojougboh, a medical doctor died during the Nigeria vs. South Africa match.
“The incident happened when the penalty was awarded against Nigeria. Dr Ojougboh was said to have shouted and slumped due to a massive heart attack when SA scored.”
The corps member identified only as Peter Yunana with badge number AD/23C/0365 from Kaduna State, allegedly passed away shortly after the penalty shoot-out started.
A top Adamawa state government official confirmed the unfortunate incident in a message. The message read in part, “Good morning sir, a corps member by name Peter Yunana,AD/23C/0365 serving in GSS Numan, collapsed and died last night.
“They were watching the Nigeria vs South Africa football match and when it reached the time for the penalty kicks, he told his colleagues that he wouldn’t watch the kick, so he bent down his head and later collapsed.
“He was rushed to the Numan General Hospital by his colleagues and was confirmed dead. The corpse is deposited in the hospital’s mortuary.
“We will transport the corpse to FMC Yola this morning for proper preservation, pending the funeral arrangements by his parents in Kaduna state. For your information sir. Thank you, sir, the message reads.
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.
