Following the reported deaths of five persons during the semi-finals of the ongoing 2023 AFCON, the Chief Medical Director of Sckye Hospital, Dr. Ikubese Thomas-Wilson, has warned Super Eagles’ fans and football lovers who are highly emotional or have heart condition to avoid the final match scheduled for Sunday.
Ikubese, who stated this in a Press release made available to newsmen on Friday [today] in Akure, said this category of persons should, instead, focus on other things that won’t agitate them.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will face the national team of the 2023 AFCON host nation, Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire, on Sunday, in the final match of the African Cup of Nations.
Reports said that about five Nigerians were reported to have died while watching the Eagles’ semi-final match against South Africa on Wednesday.
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- Deliberately engage in diversionary therapy as to minimize systemic reactions to the activities
- Pick up your phone and be engaged with it while watching the match
- Deliberately play down your emotions
- Act as if the outcome of the match is of no consequence to you
- Don’t scream or jump up
- If you begin to feel uncomfortable, quit watching the match
- Boycott live transmission and watch the highlights much later
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Among the cases of reported casualties were the Deputy Bursar of Kwara State University Malete, Ayuba Abdullahi, who died on Wednesday night while watching the semi-finals between Nigeria and South Africa.
Also, a former federal lawmaker in Delta State, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, died while watching the Eagles’ match. A source close to the politician said, “Cairo Ojougboh, a medical doctor died during the Nigeria vs. South Africa match.”
In the same vein, a member of the National Youth Service Corps [NYSC] serving in Adamawa State also reportedly died during the game.
The corps member, identified only as Samuel, from Kaduna State, allegedly died just before the final kick that secured Nigeria’s win in the match.
Another reported victim was a sales representatives, Mikhail Osundiji; as well as an Anambra-born businessman based in Cote d’Ivoire, Osondu Nwoye.
In the light of these sudden deaths, Ikubese suggested that anyone suffering from any heart condition or high blood pressure should follow the audio live scores in order to avoid screaming.
He advised such persons to stop listening to the updates if they start feeling uncomfortable.
“I will counsel that this category of persons should not watch the live transmission of the match.
“If they must do, however, they should deliberately engage in diversionary therapy as to minimize their systemic reactions to the activities therein.
“They can pick up their phones and be engaged therein while watching the match and deliberately play down their emotions, acting like the outcome of the match is of no consequence to them.
“On no account should they scream or jump up. If, in spite of all these, they yet begin to feel uncomfortable, they should quit watching.
“If they are not sure of conducting themselves with such level of decorum, they should boycott the live transmission and watch the highlights thereafter,” he said.
Ikubese condoled with the families of those who lost their loved ones while watching the football encounter and wished Nigeria luck in the coming encounter.
