Tragic-comedy: Five Nigerians died for watching African Cup of Nations Between Nigeria and South Africa
What serves to great a better moment for people to enjoy and relax themselves resulted in tears, the spirit behind football is what no one can vividly explained, football is one of the games that seems to unite people more than any other in the world, immediately one declared his or support for a certain football team or club, he/her gives in all his spirit, body and soul. Every fan football fan wants his or team/club to win but when the reverse became the case, the result is what most times tantamount to a terrified outcome.
African Cup of Nations (AFCON) began three weeks ago at Cote D'Ivoire with Nigerian team otherwise known as Super Eagle 🦅 among the group of the host which had Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Cote D'Ivoire and Guinea, the Nigerian team along Equatorial Guinea and Cote D'Ivoire who survived the group stage as the best losers moved to Round of 16 with Nigerian team facing Cameroon. Beautiful enough, the Super Eagle 🦅 defeated Lion 🦁 of Cameroon to face Antelope of Angola in quarter final, Nigerian team had a fantastic play which enables them to defeated Antelope of Angola in order to face Bafana Bafana of South Africa in semifinals.
The tension in the semifinals match was so high as both countries wants to qualify for the next stage which is the finals, the players were all fitted and ready but who will defeat who? became the both countries' problem. Nigerian Super Eagle met Bafana Bafana of South Africa on Wednesday by 6:00pm as they both played well, just about 60 minutes came a penalty kick against South Africa which a Nigerian player scored but just few minutes to the finishing, a Nigerian defender fouled South African player at the Goalkeeper's box, this very foul lead to penalty kick against Nigerian resulted in 1:1 draw.
Nigerian team mourn for the departed soul who died while watching the match
Sadly, a lot of things happened immediately the penalty kick was awarded against Nigerian which resulted in the deaths of four Nigerians who were anxiously wanted Nigeria to win the match. Among those lost their lives due to high -tension encounter while watching the match include a Former House member of House of Representatives, Delta State, Dr Cairo Ojougboh; a lecturer and Deputy Bursar of Kwara State University (KWASU), Alhaji Ayuba Abdullahi: Also, a serving member of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), Samuel, who slumped and died at one of the viewing centre in Adamawa. Another person who lost his life include a sales representative in Ogun State, Mikail Osundiji. Still among them is Anambra-born billionaire, Chief Osondu Nwoye, who also died while watching match. Shockingly, Nigeria won the match at penalty shootout after 30 minutes extra time without any goal where a Super Eagle goalkeeper saved two penalty shot.
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 blood pressure had gone up. So, 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 (UITH), and before he could be attended to, he died.
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.
Many are wonderful what could cause this kind of trage by a mere watching football match but the truth is, there are people who love their country so much and they're ready to give out everything to see the their nation succeed, grow and develop at all cost. These are patriotic citizens of a country and they can't without anything that will brought shame and reproach to their country. But just that they were too fast to give up because the Nigerian team won at last.
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