Former Super Eagles handler, Stephen Okechukwu Chinedu Keshi died suddenly in the early hours of Wednesday in Benin City, Edo state, New Telegraph has learnt.
Keshi, a truly Nigerian football icon, was billed to travel back to his base in the United States later Wednesday when he suffered a suspected heart attack a little after midnight.
The former international football player and coach had lost his wife of 35 years, Kate, last year after a prolonged battle with cancer.
His death was confirmed from a member of his family as well as one of his close associates.
According to a friend and a former member of his backroom staff when he was in charge of the national team a couple of years ago: “He (Keshi) was hail and hearty. I still spoke with him for a very long time on Tuesday. Throughout our long conversation, not once did he complain of anything illness.”
However, another friend said: “He was not ill at all, never showed any signs of illness, but we suspect he never got over the death of his wife.”
He is survived by four children and his mother.
Keshi, the only Nigerian coach to have won the Africa Cup of Nations, achieved a rare feat in 2013 by becoming only the second person to win the trophy both as a player and a coach.
The only other person to have achieved the feat is Egypt’s Mahmoud El-Gohary.
The nation’s longest serving national captain, who was a product of St. Finbarr’s College, Akoka, Lagos, started his playing career at a very young age at ACB Football Club, and later played for New Nigeria Bank, Stade d’Abidjan, Africa Sports, Lokeren, Anderlecht, RC Strasbourg, and a host of other clubs.
Keshi, who opened the doors for other Nigerian footballers to ply their trade abroad in the 80s, broke into the Super Eagles at just 20 in 1982 and was a regular face till 1994 when he bowed out after Nigeria’s first ever World Cup appearance in the US.
Keshi later switched to coaching and made history when he guided unheralded Togo to her first and only World Cup finals in 2006 (although he was removed before Germany 2006 proper). He was also in charge of Nigeria at the Brazil 2014. Keshi also managed Mali.
Keshi, nicknamed the “Big Boss” for his leadership skills, is the fifth member of the all-conquering 1994 team to die, following Uche Okafor, Thompson Oliha, Rashidi Yekini and Wilfred Agbonavbare.
Meanwhile, the family has released a statement announcing his death.
The statement signed by his brother and former manager, Emmanuel Ado was titled: “Stephen Keshi CON has gone to be with his wife”.
“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,” Ado wrote.
“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.
“We thank God for his life.
“We want to ask for understanding in this very difficult time for the family.”
