A National Youth Service Corps member serving in Adamawa State has reportedly died at a football viewing centre in the Numan area of the state during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semifinal between Nigeria and South Africa.
The corps member identified simply as Samuel from Kaduna State, was said to have passed away 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.”
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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 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, had also passed away on Wednesday evening while watching the AFCON semi-finals match between Nigeria and South Africa.
“The incident happened when the penalty was awarded against Nigeria. Dr Ojougboh was said to have shouted and slumped due to massive heart attack when SA scored.”
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