Two football fans – 39-year-old Mr. Olusoga Ogunbanjo and 42-year-old Mr. Bambo Sholeye – on Saturday slumped and died in Lagos Island, during the UEFA Champions League final between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid. Both were said to be supporters of Real Madrid.
Although their team (Real Madrid) later won the championship in extra time with three more goals after their equaliser in the dying minutes of regulation time, the duo were said to have slumped and died following the inability of Real Madrid to equalise after rival Atletico Madrid had taken the lead by an early goal in the first half of the match. Sholeye, a member of staff of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) of No 49/51 Apatira Street, off Olushi Street, Lagos Island, who had watched the match at a nearby shop, was said to have left the place in frustration after regulation time.
Deeply upset by the failure of Real Madrid to equalise the one goal scored by Atletico Madrid in the first half of the match, Sholeye was said to have brought out a chair in front of his house to relax when he suddenly slumped.
Although he was rushed to the general hospital by family members and neighbours, he was declared dead on arrival. The other football fan who was to meet his untimely death was Ogunbanjo, a refrigerator technician who resided at No 23A, Smith Street, off Evan Street, Lagos Island.
He was also a diehard supporter of Real Madrid. Popularly know as Soga by his friends, Ogunbanjo, who was said to have gone for a shave at a salon and met other football enthusiasts there, decided to watch the match with them.
When the tension became unbearable among fans who had lost hope of Real Madrid winning the champions league cup, another fan was said to have noticed how Soga was slumped on his seat and quickly raised the alarm.
He was also rushed to the emergency section of the Lagos General Hospital where he was confirmed dead by medical doctors on duty. The duo were buried yesterday morning at a public burial ground at Lagos Island by their relations in accordance with Islamic rites.
