A somber mood enveloped the Nigerian community as a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), identified as Samuel from Kaduna State, tragically passed away during the penalty shootout stage of the match between Nigeria and South Africa on Wednesday evening.
Samuel, who was serving in Adamawa State, collapsed just moments before Nigeria’s decisive kick that secured their progression to the final of the African Cup of Nations. Witnesses recounted the heartbreaking incident, with one stating, “We lost one Nigerian during our victory celebration over South Africa today at our sports viewing center here in Numan.”
According to reports, Samuel, expressing discomfort with penalty shootouts, bowed his head before collapsing suddenly. Despite efforts to rush him to the hospital, he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Mr. Jingi Dennis, the NYSC Coordinator in Adamawa State, confirmed the tragic event, expressing condolences to Samuel’s family and colleagues. Dennis recounted that Samuel’s aversion to watching penalty shootouts was followed by his sudden collapse, leading to his untimely demise at the General Hospital in Numan.
