Claim
On Wednesday 30th March 2022, former Presidential Aide for Press and Public Relations, Mr. Brian Hapunda posted a statement on his official Facebook page alleging that the stampede that occurred at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, on Tuesday 29th March 2022, during a FIFA World Cup Qualification match between Nigeria and Ghana is responsible for terminating the life of FIFA medical officer and Zambian CAF official, Dr. Kabungo. Dr. Kabungo, who was on duty as a doping officer, during the playoff between Nigeria and Ghana passed away shortly after the game. Conflicting media reports have surrounded the circumstances leading to Dr. Kabungo’s death with some media reports alleging that Dr. Kabungo was beaten and stamped on by irate fans at the stadium and died on arrival at the hospital. Other reports asserted that Dr. Kabungo collapsed and died at the Stadium.
Rating Justification
The fact checking process has determined as misleading, media reports that the Zambian CAF and FIFA medical official, Dr. Kabungo was beaten and stamped on by irate fans in stampede that occurred at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, on Tuesday 29th March 2022, during a FIFA World Cup Qualification match between Nigeria and Ghana leading to his death.
In an effort to interrogate the matter, iVerify obtained a statement from the family representative of Dr. Kabungo, Mr. Webster Nonde who disclosed that a postmortem that was carried out by a Zambian doctor Moyo Chrispine revealed that Dr Kabungo’s death was due to a condition called Atherosclerotic coronary heart disease triggered by a hostile environment.
A ministerial statement also consulted by iVerify and delivered in the National Assembly by Youth, Sport, and Arts Minister, Hon. Elvis Nkandu clarified that preliminary investigations showed that Dr. Kabungo died from a cardiac arrest, as opposed to social media speculation that he was a victim of a stampede.
In another video statement obtained by iVerify, Confederation of African Football (CAF) representative, Mr. Victor Okello appealed to the mourners at the funeral of Dr. Kabungo not to believe whatever they read on social media as he witnessed Dr. Kabungo collapse in what seemed to be a cardiac arrest.
The claims, therefore, by media reports that the Zambian CAF and FIFA medical official, Dr. Kabungo was beaten and stamped on by irate fans in stampede that occurred at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, on Tuesday 29th March 2022, during a FIFA World Cup Qualification match between Nigeria and Ghana leading to his death is misleading as autopsy report indicates that Dr. Kabungo died from Atherosclerosis triggered by the hostile environment.
