Tragedy struck on Wednesday night as Nigerian businessman, Chief Osondu Nwoye, collapsed and died while watching the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-final clash between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the South African national team.
The heartbreaking incident was revealed in a poignant Facebook post by user Chukwudi Iwuchukw, who recounted Chief Osondu’s enthusiastic presence at the stadium in Bourke, where the match took place.
According to the post, Chief Osondu, hailing from Anambra State in Nigeria’s southeast, was cheering fervently for the Super Eagles when Victor Osimen scored what seemed to be the team’s second goal.
However, the goal was later controversially cancelled by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), sparking disappointment among fans.
“By this time yesterday, High Chief Osondu was still alive, hale, and hearty,“ the post read.
“He travelled to Bourke, 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 voice, when Victor Osimen scored that second goal, which was later cancelled by VAR.
“May be 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, which resulted in the High Chief collapsing inside the stadium.
“All the frenetic efforts to revive him failed, as he was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. While the whole country was rejoicing yesterday, the people of the 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.”
