Nigerian President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mourned the death of Dr Cairo Ojougboh, a former House of Representatives member who represented the Ika federal constituency of Delta State.
According to reports, Ojougboh, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), reportedly died during the Nigeria versus South Africa match on Wednesday.
The Informant247 gathered that the tragic incident happened when a penalty was awarded against Nigeria in the 88th minute of the game and was reported to have shouted and slumped due to a massive heart attack when the Bafana Bafana scored.
“He was said to be watching the live match yesterday. When a penalty was awarded against Nigeria, Dr. Ojougboh was reported to have screamed and then collapsed,” a source said.
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.
However, Tinubu, in a statement by his spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, said he received the news of the passing of Ojougboh, former Executive Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), with a heavy heart, consoling with the Ojougboh family and the government and people of Delta State over what he called “the tragic loss”.
While praying for the peaceful repose of the departed, President Tinubu comforted his family, urging them to find strength and hope in God Almighty, who presides over the affairs of men, as well as in the cherished memories and legacy of the late APC chieftain.
The deceased was the Akinuwa of Agbor Kingdom in the Ika Local Government Area of Delta.
