A 26-year-old lawyer, Sara Araba Tettey, has reportedly died after suffering a cardiac arrest while celebrating Ghana’s victory over Panama in their opening match of the FIFA World Cup on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
According to reports, Tettey, a newly qualified legal practitioner and graduate of the Faculty of Law at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, collapsed shortly after the final whistle as fans celebrated the Black Stars’ win.
The deceased, who was called to the Ghana Bar earlier this year, was said to be working with O & A Legal Consult and was widely regarded by colleagues and friends as a promising young professional.
Eyewitnesses said she was watching the match with friends at Standard Hostel in the Bomso area near the KNUST campus in Kumasi when she suddenly became unresponsive during the celebrations.
She was immediately rushed to the hospital, where medical personnel reportedly performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for about 45 minutes in an effort to save her life. However, she was later pronounced dead.
Friends and former classmates have described Tettey, popularly known as “Araba Tettey,” as intelligent, hardworking, and compassionate.
Her body has been deposited at the mortuary pending an autopsy and funeral arrangements. Authorities are expected to determine the exact cause of death following medical examinations.