Tributes pour in for ‘Big boss’ Keshi

  • Post published:June 8, 2016

The African football community was in mourning on Wednesday with the news that former Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi had passed away.

Keshi reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest in the early hours of Wednesday while he was preparing to return to the United States.

He was one of only two people to have won the Africa Cup of Nations as a player (1994) and a coach (2013). Keshi had three stints in charge of Togo before taking over as Nigeria coach in 2011. He led Nigeria to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations title in South Africa before leading the Super Eagles to the second round of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Emmanuel Ado, a family spokesperson, confirmed the passing of the Nigerian football legend in a statement to Premium Times.

‘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,’ a family spokesman said in a statement.

‘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,’ continued Ado.

Keshi was reportedly close to joining take over at Orlando Pirates in recent weeks but ‘The Big Boss’ denied the claims.

Keshi was 54.

Tributes pour in for ‘Big boss’ Keshi:

SASoccermag.co.za would like to extend our deepest condolences to the Keshi family and friends.