Nigerians who are hypertensive have been urged not to watch the final of the 2023 AFCON to hold on Sunday.
The warning was given by a former Osun State Commissioner for Works, Remi Omowaiye.
This warning comes in the wake of reports that some football fans succumbed to shock during the semi-final clash where the Super Eagles of Nigeria triumphed over the Bafana Bafana of South Africa.
In a statement released in Osogbo, Omowaiye shared his own experience of anxiety during the semi-final, especially during the tense moments when Nigeria had a penalty awarded against them towards the end of the game.
Reflecting on his reaction, he disclosed his decision to avoid watching the final match live, opting instead to view the replay after knowing the outcome, to spare himself the emotional and physical stress.
Moreover, Omowaiye called upon the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to honor the memory of the fans who tragically lost their lives while following the semi-final match.
He emphasized the importance of acknowledging and paying tribute to the dedicated supporters, asserting that those who passed away in such circumstances deserve recognition and remembrance.
The statement reads, “The Super Eagles of Nigeria should mourn those who died while watching the semi-final match on Wednesday. I want to advise Nigerians in their interest, especially those managing hypertension.
“They should not watch the final match on Sunday. They better wait till the game ends and watch the replay. The way I felt particularly when a penalty was awarded against Nigeria during the semi-final match, I had never felt like that in my whole life. I was shivering.
“Even after the match, I was still shivering. I advise Nigerians managing hypertension to avoid watching the final match. NFF needs to mourn people who died as a result of shock during the semi-final match.
“A leader of APC in Delta State, Dr Cairo, passed out during the match, and a notable Nigerian businessman operating in Cote D’Ivoire also died. The Deputy Bursar of a university in Kwara State also passed out.
“It was also reported that a Corps member in Kaduna also slumped and died during the match. Those are the ones reported. There may be several other unreported cases.”
