People stand next to the coffin of late Nigerian football legend Stephen Keshi during his funeral ceremony at the Evangelist Catholic Church of St John, in Illah, Delta State, on July 29, 2016.
Former Nigerian international and coach Stephen Keshi died from a heart attack at the age of 54 on June 2016. Keshi, also a former skipper of Nigeria, won the Africa Cup of Nations as a player in 1994 and coach in 2013. / AFP PHOTO / PIUS UTOMI EKPEI
Former player and coach of Nigeria's national football team Austin Eguavoen. / AFP PHOTO / PIUS UTOMI EKPEI
A wreath and a portrait of late Nigerian football legend Stephen Keshi are seen during his funeral ceremony at the Evangelist Catholic Church of St John, in Illah, Delta State, on July 29, 2016.
Former Nigerian international and coach Stephen Keshi died from a heart attack at the age of 54 on June 2016. Keshi, also a former skipper of Nigeria, won the Africa Cup of Nations as a player in 1994 and coach in 2013. / AFP PHOTO / PIUS UTOMI EKPEI
Nigerian former captain and goalkeeper Peter Rufai (R) sits with former international football players during the funeral ceremony of late Nigerian football legend Stephen Keshi at the Evangelist Catholic Church of St John, in Illah, Delta State, on July 29, 2016.
Former Nigerian international and coach Stephen Keshi died from a heart attack at the age of 54 on June 2016. Keshi, also a former skipper of Nigeria, won the Africa Cup of Nations as a player in 1994 and coach in 2013. / AFP PHOTO / PIUS UTOMI EKPEI
People sit next to the coffin of football legend Stephen Keshi as they attend his funeral at the St. John The Evangelist Catholic Church, in Illah in Delta State, on July 29, 2016.
Nigerian football legend Stephen Keshi, who died aged 54, was a Cup of Nations winner as a player and coach. Supporters and international football players gathered to bid farewell, at the Ogbe Stadium, in Benin, on the eve of his funeral in his hometown Illah. / AFP PHOTO / PIUS UTOMI EKPEI
Children and son in Law of Stephen Keshi (From L) Emeke Enyihor, Stephanie Enyihor, Femi and Jennifer stand beside the casket of football legend Stephen Okechukwu Keshi during a farewell ceremony at the Ogbe Stadium, in Benin City, on July 28, 2016.
Nigerian football legend Stephen Keshi, who died aged 54, was a Cup of Nations winner as a player and coach. Supporters and international football players gathered to bid farewell, at the Ogbe Stadium, in Benin, on the eve of his funeral in his hometown Illah. / AFP PHOTO / PIUS UTOMI EKPEI
Pallbearers carry the casket of football legend Stephen Okechukwu Keshi into Ogbe Stadium, in Benin City, on July 28, 2016.
Football fans and former internationals gathered to bid farewell to Nigeria football legend Stephen Okechukwu Keshi at Ogbe Stadium, Benin City, midwest Nigerian Edo State. Keshi, 54, one of only two men to have won the Africa Cup of Nations as player and as coach, will be interred tomorrow at his hometown, Illah. / AFP PHOTO / PIUS UTOMI EKPEI
The coffin of football legend Stephen Keshi is buried in Illah, Delta State, on July 29, 2016.
Former Nigerian international and coach Stephen Keshi died from a heart attack at the age of 54 on June 2016. Keshi, also a former skipper of Nigeria, won the Africa Cup of Nations as a player in 1994 and coach in 2013. / AFP PHOTO / PIUS UTOMI EKPEI
2 Comments
Nigeria is really a developing country with a strong tendency to not improve on things. A person of Keshis calibre, knowing what he did for his country in football deserves a state burial and a documentary on him to inspire young ones and showcase to the world a Nigerian man worthy of emulation. If the NFF is run by ex-footballers, I bet they would honor their own better than this mediocre burial. It is time the Nigerian football is run by people who know their job and has experience. In addition, it is likely that Keshi did not die of a heart attack but a Pulmonary embolism–Literally blood clots in his lungs going by the antecedent history surrounding his death. We need to honor our own. I doubt any footballer would achieve as much as Keshi did now or in the immediate future. Rest in Piece my brother, you did well and your life had a meaning.
Poor Keshi- he played at the highest level for his country, qualified his compatriots for the World Cup and won the african Cup of Nations. Yet he was hired and fired and hired and fired and stressed all the way by the NFF…
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