The big Boss is Gone: RIP Stephen Keshi

We work up today to the sound of a bad news. Yes and thats that the Big Boss is dead. Yes, Stephen Keshi is no more at just 54.

They called him "The Big Boss". His name is Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, and for more than 3 decades, he bestrode Nigerian football like a colossus, as captain of the Nigeria U-19 team that would be christened by an adoring public "Flying Eagles", captain of the fearsome NNB of Benin, which he led with an abundance of skill and a rod of iron to 2 consecutive WAFU Cup victories against Hasaacas of Ghana and Stade Malien of Mali, captain of ASEC Mimosas, captain of Lokeren, captain of Anderlecht, and, most importantly, captain of Niger

Former Senate President, Senator David Mark, has described the death of former Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, as a monumental loss to Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

Mark in a statement issued by his media aide said: “I received with shock and disbelieve the news of the death of our indefatigable coach Stephen Keshi popularly called the ‘Big Boss ‘. It’s devastating, it’s a sad story.

“Keshi was one of the greatest and most successful footballers Nigeria has ever produced. Till date, no one has beaten his record. As a captain of the Super Eagles in 1994, he won the Africa Nations Cup in Tunisia. As the Chief Coach of the Super Eagles in 2013, he led Nigeria to win the Nations’ Cup in South Africa.

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

We will surely miss him...It is a big loss to Nigeria.

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