One of African football's best-known figures and former captain of the Nigeria national team, Stephen Keshi, has died at the age of 54.
The Chairman of the Edo State Football Association (EFA), Frank Ilaboya, has quoted Stephen Keshi’s family member, Ricky Aburimen, as saying that the Super Eagle’s former coach only complained of a leg ailment while holidaying at his Airport road home in Benin before he passed away on his way to the hospital at about 3:00 am.
Frank also confirmed on Wednesday that the remains of Keshi who is survived by four children and his mother, had been moved to a privately-owned mortuary, Faith Mediplex, located on the Benin Airport road in the Edo State capital.
Recall that the ex-international player and coach 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.
A statement on the coach's death was released by the late trainer's brother and aide, Emmanuel Ado, which read;
“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.”