The Super Eagles have mourned four Nigerians who died while watching their epic semi-final match with Bafana Bafana of South Africa in the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Cote d’Ivoire, declaring that they will lift the continental trophy in their honour and Nigeria.

The captain of the national soccer team, Ahmed Musa, disclosed this while leading a solemn session by the Super Eagles players and officials to mourn the deceased on Thursday.

LEADERSHIP reports how a prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State and former federal lawmaker, Chief Cairo Ojougboh, slumped and thereafter died while watching the AFCON semifinal match between Nigeria and South Africa on Wednesday night. Also, the deputy bursar of Kwara State University, Ayuba Abdullahi; a Corps member serving in Adamawa State, Samuel, and a Cote d’Ivoire based Anambra State-born businessman, all died in similar circumstances.

But, Musa said there was nothing they could do rather than to pray for the families of the deceased and also honour their memories by winning the AFCON trophy for them and Nigeria on Sunday.

A minute silence was, therefore, observed in honour of the deceased while a member of the Super Eagles, Chidozie Collins Awaziem, was asked to lead a prayer for the repose of their souls.

“Yesterday (Wednesday), we lost four Nigerians because of the game yesterday. We will observe a minute silence, and after that Awaziem will lead us in prayers, we will pray for their families because there is nothing we can do and Insha Allahu on Sunday, we will lift that trophy for them and our country,” Ahmed Musa declared.

Nigeria will battle host country Cote d’Ivoire on Sunday in the 2023 AFCON final.