The Nigeria Football Federation has expressed deep shock at the death, in the early hours of Wednesday, of former Super Eagles Captain and Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi.
Family sources said the 54 –year old, who buried his wife Kate only five months ago, had complained of irregular heartbeats and pain in his legs and was being rushed to a nearby hospital in Benin City, capital of Edo State in southern Nigeria, when he gave up the ghost.
NFF President Amaju Pinnick was too shocked for words: “This is devastating. We have lost a superhero.”
Pinnick confirmed he had been in contact with the family and would lead a delegation of some NFF Board and Congress members to Benin City on Thursday.
“The NFF Board will meet and decide on the best way to honour Stephen Keshi. We will be fully involved in the arrangements for the final burial rites.”
Pinnick has directed that all centres hosting matches of the Nigeria Professional Football League on Wednesday should observe one –minute silence before kick –off. The NFF has already informed the Confederation of African Football and the world body, FIFA about the passing of the legend.
Keshi won the Africa Cup of Nations as a player and as a Coach. The only person to achieve similar feat was Egyptian Mahmoud el-Gohary, who is also of blessed memory.
The man who made Keshi captain of Nigeria in 1983, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde, said on Wednesday morning: “This is too much of a shock. May his soul rest in peace.”
Culled from Vanguard
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