NYSC Member Collapses, Dies While Watching Nigeria’s AFCON Match in Adamawa

A National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, identified as Samuel, met an untimely demise on Wednesday night while watching the intense clash between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and South Africa during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 first semi-final match.

The captivating game concluded with a penalty shootout, but for Samuel, the excitement took a tragic turn. Mr. Jingi Dennis, the NYSC Coordinator in Adamawa State, confirmed the incident in a telephone conversation with Tribune, revealing that the young corps member slumped during the match and was immediately rushed to General Hospital in Numan by his colleagues.

Despite their efforts, Samuel could not be revived, and he was pronounced dead at the hospital. According to Mr. Dennis, the late corps member had expressed a dislike for watching penalty shootouts to his friends just before the incident occurred.

“I received the news of his death last night; I hope to have more details today. According to his colleagues who went with him to watch the match, the late corps member told them that he doesn’t 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,” Mr. Dennis stated.

Tragically, Samuel’s death was not the only one linked to the football match. Earlier on Thursday, SK Blog reported the passing of Cairo Ojougboh, a former Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters to former President Goodluck Jonathan. Ojougboh reportedly slumped while watching the same match, and his lifeless body has been transported to the mortuary.

Ojougboh, a former House Of Representatives member and the immediate past Director of Projects on the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), adds another layer of sorrow to the already somber atmosphere following these tragic incidents during a football match that was meant to bring joy and celebration.