Chief (Dr.) Cairo Ojougboh Dies Amidst AFCON Drama

By Iyojo Ameh

In a sad turn of events, Chief (Dr) Cairo Ojougboh, the Akinuwa of Agbor Kingdom, has passed away during the nail-biting semi-final clash between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in the AFCON tournament.

The sad incident happened as tension mounted during the match, with the Super Eagles and Bafana Bafana locked in a fierce battle for a spot in the tournament final.

At the 67th minute, Super Eagles’ Captain, William Troost-Ekong, successfully converted a penalty, seemingly putting Nigeria in the lead.

However, moments later, the excitement was quelled as VAR intervened, overturning Nigeria’s goal due to a foul on South African player Percy Tau in the penalty area.

While the precise circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear, speculations suggest that it occurred at the exact moment a penalty was awarded against Nigeria, where reports indicate the possibility of Chief Ojougboh collapsing and succumbing to a heart attack following the cancellation of Nigeria’s penalty.

Despite the sorrowful turn of events, Nigeria managed to secure a 4-2 victory in the penalty shootout, propelling them to the final of the AFCON tournament.

As the nation mourns the loss of Chief Cairo Ojougboh, his passing serves as a poignant reminder of the profound impact of sports and the unpredictable twists of fate.