More deaths have been recorded over the tension soaked semi final AFCON match between Nigeria and South Africa in Bouake, Côte d’Ivoire on Wednesday.
The Deputy Bursar of Kwara State University Malete, Alhaji Ayuba Abdullahi, died while watching the Nigeria and South Africa match.
Nigeria won the match against the South Africa opponents by 4-2 goals on penalties after 120 minutes of play.
The Network gathered that the Deputy Bursar had gone to a viewing centre in the Sango area to watch until it was time to take the penalty kicks, when his health took a sudden turn.
He was said to have complained at the end of the extra time that he had aversion for penalty kicks and left the viewing centre for home where he collapsed.
Efforts made the resuscitate him in a private hospital were not successful as he died before getting to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital where he was referred to.
The University, in a statement on Thursday by the Director of Information, Dr Saedat Aliyu, confirmed Abdullahi’s death.
“This is to announce the death of Mr. Ayuba Olaitan Abdullahi of the Bursary Department.
“Janazah will be held this morning, and his remains will be interred at the Hausa Muslim cemetery, Apata Yakuba, Oyun area, Ilorin, at 9 am.”
Aliyu said that the cause of the sudden death had not been ascertained even after she said that he was full of life and active in the office earlier in the day.
Also, a corp member serving in Adamawa State died while watching the match.
The Corp member identified as Samuel from Kaduna State reportedly passed on before the final kick taken by Iheanacho which secured Nigeria’s victory over the opponents.
Earlier, a former Executive Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Cairo Ojougboh, was reported dead while watching the match.
A family source, who confirmed his death, said he slumped in his Abuja office while watching the match
President Bola Tinubu has sent a condolence message to the family of the former NDDC Executive Director.
In a statement by his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu prayed for the peaceful repose of the departed.
The President also comforted his family members and urged 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 chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ojougboh was a member of the House of Representatives (2003-2007) and a leader of the APC in Delta state.
The Super Eagles eventually emerged victorious in the tension-soaked semi-final battle with the Bafana Bafana of South Africa.
Kelechi Iheanacho scored the deciding penalty in the shootout victory thriller in Bouake.
