Keshi’s burial programme begins
The final journey of Nigeria football legend Stephen Keshi will begin in Benin City, Edo State on Thursday.
The Nigeria Football Federation confirmed on Wednesday that the final rites would now be confined to Edo and Delta states.
The NFF delegation to the final rites
will be led by the president, Mr. Amaju Pinnick, and will include, among
others, Mr. Frank Ilaboya (Chairman of the Edo State Football
Association), Mr. Neville Bekederemo (Chairman of NPFL side Warri
Wolves) and Mr. Edema Fuludu (Chairman of Delta State League Management
Company).
Keshi, one of only two men to have won
the Africa Cup of Nations as player and as coach, died in Benin City on
Wednesday, 8th June at the age of 54.
He captained the national team for 11
years, winning the Africa Cup of Nations gold, silver and bronze. In
2013, as coach of the Super Eagles, Keshi lifted the African trophy
again after Nigeria defeated Burkina Faso 1-0 in the final at Soccercity
in Johannesburg.
In a 44-month spell as Eagles manager,
Keshi also took the team to the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup, led
the team to the FIFA Confederations Cup and qualified Nigeria for the
African Nations Championship for the first time, winning bronze at the
competition.
The remains of the legend will be interred at his hometown, Illah, on Friday
