Nigerians and the World pay tribute To Nigeria's Legend, Stephen Keshi

Nigeria's Legend, Stephen Keshi

Tributes have continued to pour across the world for former Nigerian coach and captain Stephen Keshi who died in the wee hours of Wednesday, as reported by most media.

Keshi, the former Togo and Mali gaffer passed on after sufferring a cardiac arrest according to Keshi's family spokesman Emmanuel Ado.

Many Nigerians and of course, football lovers worldwide, have continued to pay tribute to the late legend since the sad news broke early Wednesday morning.

Atsi Sports captured lots of tributes by friends, associates and notable Nigerians who have expressed their sadness over the shocking news of Keshi's death.

The Nigerian nation has been in complete shock over the death of Stephen Keshi, the former coach of the national team, Super Eagles. Eminent Nigerians from all works of life, including celebrities and Super Eagles players have continued to eulogise Keshi, who passed on amid suspicion that he succumbed to a heart attack in the early hours of Wednesday.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday said Nigerian football would no longer remain the same with the death of a former Coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi.

Buhari stated this in a post on his official Twitter handle, @NGRPresident.
(President Buhari ‏@NGRPresident 2h2 hours ago Nigerian football will not be the same without Stephen Keshi. He gave this country his all. May his soul rest in peace.)
He said Nigerians would miss the Keshi because he gave his all for the country.

Senate President

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Senate President, Bukola Saraki said Keshi's death was both painful and unfortunate coming at a time the nation is in dire need of wisdom and rich experience of sports professionals like the Keshi to stabilize its soccer architecture.

Saraki lauded the contributions of Keshi to the development of football in the country and extolled his doggedness and exemplary contributions that saw the nation clinch international trophies both as a player and a coach.

ATIKU ABUBAKAR

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, said that he felt anguished waking up to the news that Stephen Keshi has passed on. According to Atiku, “Keshi was such an admirable and dedicated man who did Nigeria proud with his talent in the game of football. May he rest in peace.”

CAF AND HAYATOU

Hayatou expressed his “dismay” and “immense sadness” following the sudden death of the man, who was a twice winner of the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria; in 1994 as captain and in 2013 as a coach, with the latter earning him the distinction of Coach of the Year at the Glo-CAF Awards.

In a correspondence, the CAF President also paid glowing tribute to the deceased, who goes down into history as the only African coach to have qualified two African teams to the World Cup – Togo in 2006 and Nigeria in 2014.

His other enviable record is being the only African trainer to have steered a team to the Second Round of the FIFA World Cup, with Nigeria at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

He had achieved the same feat as a player with the Super Eagles at their maiden participation at the Mundial in 1994 in USA.

The CAF President conveyed the condolences on his own behalf, the CAF Executive Committee and African football family on the demise of Keshi, who was a jewel to his family, friends and the Nigerian football family, who are badly affected

KALUSHA BWALYE

Kalusha Bwalya, Confederation of African Football (CAF) exco member and FIFA Football Committee member revealed that he woke up to the sad news of the passing of Stephen Keshi.

In his words “I can’t believe it. I am in shock. Keshi and myself started almost at same time in Belgium (1986). Sad sad sad mdala. Words can’t explain. Big man with a big heart Keshi was. Football legend. RIP.”

OLISE

Sunday Oliseh, erstwhile Super Eagles coach said on his twitter handle “Horrible news & Sad day as Our Legendary Captain & brother Stephen Keshi dies. May his blessed soul rest in peace. We lost an iconic Hero 2day.”

MARK FISH

Former Sotuh African player Mark Fish said he was very sad to hear about Stephen Keshi passing away. “Condolences to his family. An absolute gentleman off the field and a fantastic player.”

JULIUS AGU

Comedian and entertainer Julius Agwu said “This truly exemplifies the brevity of human existence. Stephen Okechukwu Keshi….. You came, You Saw, You got trophies.”

KEHI MOMENTS

Keshi, 54, is the only man to have won the African Nations Cup for Nigeria both as a captain and as a coach having captained the team to success in 1994 and managing it to the trophy in 2013. He became the only the second person to win the trophy both as a player and a coach after Egypt’s Mahmoud El-Gohary.

Fondly known as ‘Big Boss’ by his colleagues and those within football circles, Keshi was one of Nigeria’s early football exports to Europe, playing for Anderlecht in the late 1980s. A product of St. Finbarr’s College, Akoka, Lagos, late Stephen Keshi began his playing career at ACB Football Club, and then 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 to 1994, most of the time captaining the Super Eagles and scoring important goals from his position as a central defender. He also coached Togo and Nigeria at the World Cup, as well as Mali.

Other Tributes

ECHIEJILE

AS Monaco defender Elderson Echiejile who was part of the 2013 African Nations Cup triumph in South Africa with Keshi as the Nigeria coach also eulogised the departed Big Boss.

"This is hurting! You taught us alot but now you are no more. RIP BigBoss, we will forever miss you! #Legend #EUE3," Echiejile wrote via his handle, @EldersonEch.

ANDERLECHT FC

Sporting Anderlecht of Belgium where Keshi started his European career also tweeted via its handle, @Sporting_AND: "RIP Stephen Keshi. The former Anderlecht defender has died at the age of 54 after a cardiac arrest."

SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa's Minster for Sports, Mbalula Fikile also paid tribute to the Nigerian legend.

"Another Legend falls, condolences to the entire football fraternity – we've become poorer without #StephenKeshi.

MIDO OF EGYPT

Egyptian forwad Ahmed Mido also tweeted about the tragic death of Keshi via his handle @midoahm.

"What a sad news..Stephen keshi has passed away..#RIPKeshi."

FEMI KUTI

Afrobeat King Femi Anikulapo-Kuti also expressed his shock at the demise of the fallen legend.

"Shocking sad news of the passing of Stephen Keshi RIP we pray for his family," Femi Kuti tweeted via his handle @Femiakuti.

Keshi, along with Egypt's Mahmoud El-Gohary, were the two men to have won the Africa Cup of Nations as both a player and a coach.

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