Nigeria Football Legend Stephen Keshi Has Died Suddenly At The Age of 54.

One of African football’s best-known football legends, former Super Eagles captain and coach,Stephen Keshi has suddenly died of apparently heart attack. Keshi who is among only two men to win the Africa Cup of Nations as a player and a coach took reins as Head Coach in 2011.

The statement released by family spokesman, Emmanuel Ado 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.

During his career Keshi also managed two other West Africa countries Togo and Mali. His international club level career included a spell with Belgian club side Anderlecht.

Keshi skippered the Nigeria team that won the Nations Cup in 1994 before narrowly missing out on a World Cup quarter-final place the same year when the tournament were held in the USA.

He coached the Super Eagles on three occasions, leading them to the 2013 Nations Cup title in South Africa when they defeated Burkina Faso in the final.He also led Nigeria into last 16 at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil where the Super Eagles were commended for great showing.

However, 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 after intervention from then Nigeria president Goodluck Jonathan.

Keshi was then sacked for a final time last July and replaced by his former teammate, Sunday Oliseh. Fans across the world are mourning him with social media hashtag #RIPKeshi and #StephenKeshi.