Stephen Keshi: Nigeria’s football legend dies aged 54

·        His last moments before death

Stephen Okechukwu Keshi is dead. He died in the early hours of Wednesday, June 8, 2016, in Benin City, Edo state capital following complains of pain in the leg.

Easily one of Africa’s best known football figures, and a great soccer inspiration to many younger soccer players and fans, he was fondly called the “Big Boss” by admirers. A onetime Super Eagles captain, Kehi was one of only two men to win the Africa Cup of Nations as a player and a coach.

Late Stephen Keshi

Acclaimed as a football legend given his enviable record as player and coach, Keshi was captain of the Nigeria team that won the Nations Cup in 1994 before narrowly missing out on a World Cup quarter-final place the same year.

He was coach of the Super Eagles on three occasions, leading them to the 2013 Nations Cup title in South Africa and the last 16 at the 2014 World Cup.

His contract was not renewed after the Brazil tournament but he returned on a match-by-match deal following the team's failure to reach the 2015 Nations Cup finals.

He was then sacked as caretaker coach but reinstated following intervention from the former Nigeria president Goodluck Jonathan.

Keshi, who lost his wife to cancer late last year, was then sacked for a final time last July.

The Chairman of the Edo State Football Association (EFA), Frank Ilaboya, confirmed on Wednesday that the remains of former Super Eagle’s coach, Stephen Keshi, had been moved to a mortuary in Benin.

The privately-owned mortuary, Faith Mediplex, is located on the Benin Airport road in the Edo State capital.

Mr. Ilaboya quoted Mr. Keshi’s family member, Ricky Aburimen, as saying the Eagle’s former coach only complained of a leg ailment while holidaying at his Airport Road home in Benin before he passed away.

He said Mr. Keshi died on the way to the hospital at about 3am.

The ex- international lost his wife, Nkem Kate Keshi only last December. They had been married for more than 30 years. She died after a prolonged battle with cancer.

Mr. Keshi is survived by four children and his mother.

Meanwhile, a statement on the coaches death had been released by Emmanuel Ado, brother and aide to the late Mr. Keshi, said: “With thanksgiving to God, the Ogbuenyi Fredrick Keshi family of Illah in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, announces the death of Mr. Stephen Okechukwu Chinedu Keshi’.

“Our son, brother, father, father-in-law, brother-in-law, has gone to be with his wife of 35 years (Nkem ), Mrs. Kate Keshi, who passed on on the 9th December 2015.

“Since her death, Keshi has been in mourning. He came back to Nigeria to be with her. He had planned to fly back today (Wednesday) before he suffered a cardiac arrest. He has found rest.”

(NAN)