Former Nigerian international, Philip Osondu, 48, is dead

Former Super Eagles Star, Philip Osondu has died in Belgium, where he has been residing since retiring from football.
Osondu was said to have complained of not feeling fine and went to the hospital where he died.

The former Enyimba of Aba star also played for such El Kanemi Warriors, came to national attention in 1987 when he featured for the national U-17 team at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, where he won the Golden Ball as the competition’s best player.

He also participated in the World U-20 tournament in Saudi Arabia, where Nigeria won the silver medal.

Osondu also played for El Kanemi Warriors before moving to Europe to join RSC Anderlecht in 1988.
A year later, the 18-year-old striker made his debut at the highest level in an away match against Germinal Ekeren in 1989 playing under coach Aad de Mos. However, there was a lot of competition at Anderlecht with players like Luc Nilis, Luis Oliveira, Marc Van Der Linden, and Gert Verheyen, which made Osondu appear barely at the games. Between 1990 and 1992 the Nigerian was also loaned to neighbors RWDM.

In 1994 Osondu moved to second division club La Louviere, where the small and technically gifted striker scored five times in 20 matches. A season later he swapped La Louvière during the winter break for Union Saint Gillis, where he completed the rest of the season. Afterward he played several years for Diegem Sport and FC Merchtem 2000.

Osondu, who was regarded in his own country as a great talent and also received high praise as a youth international, could never fulfill his potential in Belgium. He is often cited as one of many young Africans who went too early to go abroad.

He was born on November 28, 1971, in Aba, Abia State.