• Last moments of Nigeria-South Africa AFCON semi-final match casualties
• Cardiologists recommend way out
Football, as we know it in this part of the world, is the greatest unifier. In a multi-religious, multi-ethnic and politically divided country like Nigeria, it has even gone a step further to become our opium, cooling our senses and making us forget our problems and differences.
Since January 13, 2024, when this year’s African Cup of Nations began in Cote d’Ivoire, Nigerians have become united and indivisible, especially when the country is playing. The Igbo celebrate with the Yoruba and the Yoruba celebrate with the Hausa, forgetting for once their religious differences or political leanings.
However, when the same football now turns around, wielding a dagger and gnawing at people’s heart, snuffing life out of them unexpectedly, then there is a need to take another look. Perhaps step back and look for a solution.
Four Nigerians, at the last count, have been reported dead on account of Wednesday’s feisty semi-final football match between arch-rivals, Nigeria and South Africa. Not many have put it to coincidence, as it has been unanimously linked to the tension-soaked match.
One of the victims, Cairo Ojougboh, a former lawmaker, presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters to former President Goodluck Jonathan and immediate past Director of Projects on the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was said to have slumped and died while watching the match in Abuja.
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A source close to the late APC chieftain, who was also a medical doctor, said the incident occurred when the 89th minute penalty was awarded against Nigeria and Ojougboh shouted and slumped due to a massive heart attack when South Africa scored.”
Others are Alhaji Ayuba Abdullahi, Deputy Bursar of Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete; Peter Yunana, a National Youth Service Corps member serving in Adamawa State and Osondu Nwoye, a Nigerian businessman from Anambra State, who died in Cote d’ivoire.
The late Alhaji Abdulahi was said to have slumped and died while watching at a viewing centre in Sango Area of Ilorin. He was buried on Thursday, according to Islamic rites.
Peter Yunana, on his part, was said to have told his colleagues with whom he was watching the match that he didn’t like watching penalty shootout and subsequently bowed his head while it went on. But to their surprise, he suddenly collapsed and was rushed to Genera Hospital Numan, where he could not be revived.
Nwoye’s death was particularly dramatic, as he was said to have clutched his chest and collapsed inside the stadium in Bouake when the referee cancelled the Super Eagles’ second goal and awarded a penalty to the Bafana Bafana of South Africa.
A Facebook user, Chukwudi Iwuchukwu, who broke the sad news on his Facebook page, said all efforts to rescue him proved abortive, as he was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
Iwuchukwu’s post read in part: “By this time yesterday, High Chief Osondu was still alive, hale and hearty… He travelled to Bouake, the city that hosted the Super Eagles match yesterday, to watch his darling Super Eagles play.
“He loves football and is patriotic for his home country. According to eyewitnesses, the High Chief was on top of the moon, shouting on top of (his) voice when Victor Osimhen scored that second goal, which was later cancelled by VAR.
“Maybe the shock of seeing the goal cancelled and penalty awarded to South Africa was too much to bear for his fragile heart, which failed immediately, and resulted in the High Chief collapsing inside the stadium.”
The post ended rather evocatively when Iwuchukwu wrote: “While the whole country was rejoicing yesterday, the people of Amanuike community in Anambra State, where he came from, were mourning.
“They just lost an illustrious person, the richest man in the community, who was an iroko who provided shelter, shade and succour to many in that community. During his lifetime, his title name was Nwachinemelu of Amanuike.”
Anambra community in shock, pains
According to The Nation’s correspondent in Anambra State, the death of Chief Osondu Nwoye, said to be one of the richest men in Amanuke, Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, has shattered the dreams of so many who knew him, especially his Amanuke home town community who enjoyed his large-heartedness.
The 53-year-old billionaire philanthropist was said to be watching the match with his wife, Ngozi and friends in Bouake when the incident occurred.
Said his friend and kinsman, Chief Chikodi Anarah, it will be difficult for the community to come out of the shock, as this is one tragedy that has hit them like a thunderbolt.
Anarah, who is Anambra State Commissioner for Home Affairs, who stated that he was still in shock, said he was not aware that the late Nwoye had any underlying health challenge.
“Sincerely,” Anarah said, “we don’t really know what to do again. The entire community is in pains and confused.
“This is a young man that has made so many youths in this community and beyond. He has given scholarships to uncountable persons in the area.
“He has not been in politics and not interested in it. He does not even belong in any camp; just a young man that minds his business as a typical business person.
“Nwoye’s philanthropy is unparalleled in this area. The way he does to the youths is the same way he does to the aged, widows and the less-privileged.
“This is big a blow to us in Amanuke community and the entire Igbo race,”Anarah lamented.
Another person who could not subdue his tears as the news hit him was a popular musician in the area, Chibuzor Nwafor a.k.a.-Onyeoma.
Even as he spoke to this reporter over the phone, he could not stop lamenting that “a heavy rain has fallen in Amanuke”
Onyeoma, The Nation gathered, was one of the biggest beneficiaries of late Nwoye’s philanthropy, having even gone to Cote d’ Ivoire on Nwoye’s invitation and bill to perform for the deceased and his friends.
Onyeoma, who struggled visibly with his emotion during this interview only managed to say, “I really don’t have the strength to talk about him. This heavy rain is a bad one for our people. Please, give me some time to recover myself.”
He never did. Not on this occasion.
Another respondent, Ikechukwu Obdiegwu, who is from the same community as the late billionaire, simply described him as “a good man that helped people.”
A former Deputy Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) and Ward Chairman, All Progressives Grand Alliance APGA in Amanuke, told The Nation that Nwoye would have been alive if he had not watched the football match.
In Abidjan, where the deceased is a household name among the Nigerian Igbo community, our correspondent covering the ongoing AFCON reports that the late Nwoye is the president Director-General of Groupe Auto Promotion and a renowned spare part dealer.
Further information gathered revealed that he has lived in the former French colony for 30 years bestriding the business circle.
The Nation gathered that he was also at an event organised by Nigerian businessman, Obi Cubana at the Nigerian Village in Abidjan, hale and hearty days before the Wednesday match.
Attempt by our correspondent to have a word with President, Nigerian Community in Abidjan, Michael Emeka, was not successful, as he was still too shell-shocked to make any comment on the deceased with whom he was said to be very close.
A testimony to their closeness will be the photo of himself and the deceased, which is currently on display as his Whatsapp DP.
Nwoye is married with three children who are all based in Canada, while his wife lives in Abidjan with him.
He was a big Chelsea fan.
We didn’t see this coming – Adamawa NYSC co-ordinator
According to superiors and colleagues of the late Peter Yuhana at his place of primary assignment in Yola, the young man had no known health issue.
The Adamawa State NYSC Coordinator, Denis Jingi, who gave an update to our correspondent, said the late corps member was all right by known standards.
Jingi said the 25-year-old was watching the game at a viewing centre in Numan town, 70 kilometres south of the state capital, Yola, when he fell from his seat and never got up alive.
Stressing that Yuhana had no known medical history predisposing him to heart attack, the NYSC co-ordinator said: “If there was anything like that, it was not known to us. I have checked his file. There is no such medical record.
“To the best of our knowledge, he was alright. He was hale and hearty before the match and well into the time of penalty shootout,” he said.
Giving an insight into Yuhana’s last moments, Mr Jingi said, “We have been told of how anxious he became as the penalty kicks were about to begin. Those with him said he spoke of a phobia for penalty kicks when Nigeria was involved.
“He said such fear was usual with him whenever Nigeria faced any team. He was said to have lowered his head as the shootouts were about to begin, saying he would not watch any of the penalties. I guess the mere thought of the process made him uneasy even as he chose not to face the screen at that particular time, especially since he was still in the crowd of television viewers with all the noise they were likely to have been making.
“They said he slumped shortly after he lowered his head from the television screen and failed to make it up. He was taken to the hospital there in Numan, but he could not be helped.”
Jingi said the body which was initially kept at the Numan General Hospital, had been transferred to Yola.
“We transported the corpse to MAUTH Yola this morning (Thursday) for proper preservation, pending the funeral arrangements by his parents in Kaduna State,” Jingi said.
The late youth corps member hailed from Kagoro in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State and carrying out his primary assignment at the Government Secondary School, Numan.
Principal, Government Secondary School, Numan, Mr Miwa Lasco, also told our reporter in his office Friday morning that the late Yunana was not known with any health problem.
He said the whole tragic drama involving Yunana appeared to have started and ended with the AFCON match.
“I have advised that an autopsy be conducted to determine exactly what happened to the young man,” the principal said, adding that the NYSC authority in the state have promised to have the autopsy done.
He said, however, that the Numan General Hospital where the corps member was first taken to held the view that he died of cardiac arrest.
He said his school would miss the late corps member who taught the students Chemistry.
Yunana was an HND graduate from the Shehu Idris College of Health & Technology in Makarfi, Kaduna State, where he studied Community Health.
A document viewed by our correspondent showed that Yunana was registered for national service under the NYSC on November 1, 2023; and was due for discharge on October 31, 2024.
Late KWASU deputy bursar not a football fanatic — Colleague
A junior colleague of the late deputy bursar of Kwara State University (KWASU) has attributed his passing to an act of God, saying he was not a football fanatic.
Ayuba Abdullahi Olaitan died suddenly on Wednesday while watching the semi-final match of the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON) between Nigeria and South Africa.
In a telephone conversation with our correspondent, Olaitan’s junior colleague at the university, Abubakar M. Jimoh, said the bursary department and entire KWASU community were mourning the bursar’s death.
Jimoh said his late boss was not nursing any known health challenge before his death on Wednesday night.
He said the day before his death Olaitan was as lively as usual both while they were in the office and when they were returning home after work.
Jimoh said: “He was my oga (boss). We used to come to office together and we would also go back together.
“On Tuesday when we were going back home at the close of work, there was no sign that his death was imminent.
“One thing I can say about him is that he was not a fanatical lover of the round leather game.
“His sudden death is an act of God.
“I think he had finished his earthly race.”
In a condolence message, former Senate President Bukola Saraki mourned the late deputy bursar, who was a card-carrying member of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
Senator Saraki’s media aide Abdulganiyu Abdulqadir signed the condolence.
Saraki described the deceased as a devout Muslim, peace-lover, committed civil servant and patriotic Nigerian.
“The passing of Alhaji Ayuba Abdullahi Olaitan is a huge loss — not only to his family but to the Kwara State University community, the people of Ilorin Emirate, and Kwara in general.
“He was a devoted Muslim, peace-lover, committed civil servant, and patriotic Nigerian who will always be remembered for his selfless service to our dear state and country.
“I extend my heartfelt condolences to the immediate family members of the deceased, KWASU community, and the people of the Ilorin Emirate.
“My thoughts and prayers are with them at this period of grief.
“May Almighty Allah forgive his misdeeds and reserve for him a special place in Aljannah Firdaus,” Saraki prayed.
Is football a game of death?
Not long ago, a footballer reportedly died in one of the foreign leagues and a young, teenage girl overhearing the news on a cable news television, asked in visible surprise: Do people die playing football?
This reporter took time to explain to her that this indeed happens, though not all the time, to footballers with weak hearts, who did not know of their condition or weren’t managing it very well. What this reporter did not tell her was that people even die watching football, and that this is by far more rampant.
But why? Why do people slump and die watching what has been largely described as ‘the beautiful game’? Why does a game that brings so much joy, happiness and excitement, obliterate disunity among humanity also carry the potency of death in another pocket? Is it a case of weak heart or as religious people would want us to believe, faith? A case of time up and time out for the deceased?
Case of weak heart?
Speaking to The Nation, Dr. Akinsanya Olusegun-Joseph, a Cardiology Consultant at the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital, suggested that pre-existing cardiovascular issues could play a pivotal role in a person’s death under such circumstance, adding that “watching an intense football match can elicit a range of emotions such as stress, anger or excitement, and individuals with cardiovascular issues may be more susceptible to adverse effects, as the emotions can raise blood pressure and heart rate.”
Dr. Ramon Moronkola, Consultant Cardiologist, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), said people die suddenly during emotional surges like football matches is because there is a lot of emotional commitment, emotional exertion which result in emotional surge.
“In such situations where someone is extremely happy or excited or extremely grieved, these may put a lot of pressure on such individual’s cardiovascular system.
“If these individual has no underlying morbidity, that is, the vessels are fine, it may not cause much of a problem.
“But in a situation where an individual has an underlying cardiovascular disease – whether the disease is known or unknown and the person had not been making effort to treat or control it, maybe the vessels in the heart are already narrowed because of plax.
“If the individual is now subjected to sudden emotional surge, this may make the individual develop a heart attack, chiefly because perhaps the amount of blood being supplied to the heart vessels is not enough ab initio and the person is now exposed to emotional exertion and the heart is demanding for more. This may lead to a heart attack. If it is severe, we can have cardiac arrest and death.
“Number two, it is possible that these individuals had a heart failure – maybe not too severe and the heart is struggling to work. If such a person is exposed to such emotional exertion or surge, the person can have cardiac arrest. Abnormal beating of the heart can also lead to sudden death.
“Also, there are situations when the individual has genetic abnormality that puts the heart at the risk of developing abnormal rhythm when there is a sudden emotional surge. Such individuals can die suddenly when exposed to sudden emotional surge.
“Another possibility is that such individuals with these underlying abnormalities may also develop stroke during emotional surges and may die.”
Way out
To forestall such untimely deaths, Dr Ramon advises that people “try and do medical checkups. They shouldn’t wait until they have symptoms before they do medical checkups. This could help them pick these issues in time and help them avoid the risk of sudden death.
“If you do health check and you realise that you have these conditions, you should ensure they are optimally treated.
“Also, it is good to know one’s limitations. There are people I know who don’t watch live matches, especially matches they have emotional attachment to.
“They either stay away, sleep and when they wake up, they watch the replay.
“If you know you have chest pain, your heart is beating very fast, it is better to avoid such live matches and other tense events or activities.
“What we have also learnt from these unfortunate incidents is the need to adjust and improve our emergency responses.
“Imagine if the people around those people that died had the ability to administer resuscitation, CPR, coupled with an existing ambulance that immediately responds when called upon.
“These individuals could have been given additional chance to live.” Ramon said.