A National Youth Service Corps member serving in Adamawa State has been reported dead at a football viewing centre in the Numan area of the state during an intense semi-final between Nigeria and South Africa at the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Ivory Coast.
According to reports, the corps member, identified simply as Samuel from Kaduna State, was said to have died before the final kick, which Nigeria scored in the penalty shootouts to win the match on Wednesday.
The news of Samuel’s death was posted on social media by someone who claimed to have witnessed the incident.
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.”
The NYSC Coordinator in Adamawa State, Jingi Dennis, said on Thursday that the corps member was confirmed dead at the General Hospital in Numan.
He said, “I received the news of his death last night. I hope to have more details today (Thursday). According 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 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.”
“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 incident made it a second reported death during the highly intense encounter. A former member of the House of Representatives representing the Ika Federal Constituency of Delta State, Dr Cairo Ojougboh, also passed away on Wednesday evening while watching the AFCON semi-finals match between Nigeria and South Africa.
The Informant247 reports that the Super Eagles of Nigeria have booked their spot in the 2023 African Cup of Nations finals after beating Bafana Bafana of South Africa 4-2 in penalties in penalty shootouts
The Super Eagles secured a penalty after African Player of the Year Victor Osimhen was brought down in the box by Mothobi Mvala (South Africa) at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake, Ivory Coast, giving Nigeria a 1-0 lead in the 67th minute when Captain William Troost-Ekong converted a low-driven penalty into the middle of the net fooling Ronwen Williams in goal.
Nigeria thought they had sealed the game with a 2-0 lead when Osimhen scored as he latched on to a pass inside the penalty box and fired a perfect low strike, which went inside the left post. However, a VAR review verdict said Nigeria had no goal due to a foul in the build-up play. The decision was overturned, and a penalty was given to South Africa.
Bafana Bafana reacted with a 1-1 goal from the spot when Teboho Mokoena of South Africa played the penalty past Stanley Nwabili into the bottom left corner.