Keshi’s Children Expected In Nigeria On Wednesday For Burial Preparations

The children of the late Stephen Keshi are expected to arrive in Nigeria on Wednesday from Atlanta, Georgia in the United States of America in preparation for the burial of the deceased football icon, a source close to the family has said.

Former Super Eagles captain and head coach Keshi died last week and his body has since been deposited at the Faith Mediplex, a privately-owned mortuary facility in Benin City, Edo State.

“We are expecting his children to come home midweek to inform us of their own plans for their late father’s burial,” the family source said.

“We’re aware that so many government personalities want to play roles in seeing that the former captain and coach gets a befitting burial.”

Keshi died at the age of 54, six months after his wife Kate passed on.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian national assembly on Tuesday have resolved to send a delegate to be led by the Chairman Senate Committee on Youth

and Sports, Senator Obinna Ogba, to condole with the Keshi family and the government and people of Delta State.

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Keshi’s Children Expected In Nigeria On Wednesday For Burial Preparations

Kotoko Legend Pays Tribute To Keshi

The General Manager of Asante Kotoko, Samuel Opoku Nti has paid glowing tribute to the late Stephen Keshi.

Stephen Keshi, affectionately called the ‘Big Boss’ in the football fraternity passed away in the early hours of Wednesday, and tributes has been flowing across the globe.

And Opoku Nti, a legend in his own right at the Garden City with Asante Kotoko has joined the mourners of the 2013 Africa cup of nations winner.

“I want to pay tribute to my good friend and brother,Stephen Okechukwu Keshi (Chief) as he was widely known,” Mr. Opoku wrote on his Facebook account.

“He was a gifted footballer, a great leader and a wonderful human being. In good times and bad he never lost his capacity to smile and laugh nor to inspire others with his warmth and kindness.

“I admired and respected him for his energy and commitment to his country and especially for his passion towards the development of football on our continent .

We have lost a true legend

R.I.P bro.”

Stephen Keshi was one of few people in the game of football who have the African cup both as a player and coach.

Kotoko Legend Pays Tribute To Keshi

GFA Mourns With Nigeria

The Ghana Football Association (GFA), has paid tribute to Stephen Keshi following the death of the former Nigeria player and coach.

The Ghana FA President Kwesi Nyantakyi sent a message of condolence to the Nigeria Football Federation and its President, Mr Amaju Pinnick.

“Stephen Keshi was a great man and a noble spirit, whose shining example of dedication to football and to footballers was not only dedicated Nigeria but to several countries including Ghana as he mentored several Ghanaian players,” wrote the GFA President.

“Keshi’s death is not only a loss to our brothers Nigeria but also to the football fraternity of Ghana. He was greatly admired by all and he will indeed be sorely missed.

“I had the honour – and the privilege – of meeting him on several occasions, and I was always overwhelmed by his dedication to football, his knowledge of the game and humility. This is a very sad day for us,” added Kwesi Nyantakyi in his message.

The CAF Executive Committee (ExCo) member on his own behalf and on behalf of Ghana Football fraternity, asked Mr. Pinnick to convey Ghanaians condolences to the entire Nigeria and loved ones.

The flags at the GFA headquarters will be flying at half-mast as they mourn the death of the 2013 Africa Cup of nations winner.

GFA Mourns With Nigeria

"Big Boss" Dead

Nigerian football icon Stephen Okechukwu Keshi died suddenly in the early hours of Wednesday in Benin City, Edo state, according to the Financial Watch.

The former international football player and coach had lost his wife of 33 years, Kate, last year after a prolonged battle with cancer.

TheCable confirmed his death from a member of his family as well as one of his close associates.

“He was not ill at all, never showed any signs of  illness, but we suspect he never got over the death of his wife,” a friend said.

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.

Keshi, 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.

He represented Nigeria from 1982, at age 20, till 1994, most of the time captaining the Super Eagles and scoring vital goals from his position as a central defender.

He also coached Togo and Nigeria at the World Cup, as well as 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.

"Big Boss" Dead