Early hours of today, report of the dead of former super eagle captain and national team coach Stephen Keshi surface online.
Former Nigeria national team coach winner of Nations Cup and Ex-super eagles captain Stephen Keshi has sadly passed, months after his wife, at the age of 54.
The report was first surface online this morning by The Cable, but the family spokesperson Emmanuel Ado confirmed Keshi died of cardiac arrest in the early hours of today.
He coach and helped the national team of Togo to reach their first ever 2006 World Cup appearance in Germany, he also coach the national team of Mali and took them to the 2010 Nations Cup in Angola.
He led the Super Eagles side to success at AFCON 2013 where they won after 19 years. He managed the side to the Fifa Confederation Cup 2013 and 2014 FIFA World Cup and became the African coach to reach the knock out stage where they fell to France in the Round of 16.
Ever since his dead news broke out early hours of today, Nigerians and several personalities around the world has beginning to mourns the passing of their legendary coach and national team player.
Eminent personality such as former vice-president of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, Gov Rauf Aregbesola, Senator Shehu Sani, duo of his colleagues and former super eagles coach Sunday Oliseh and Daniel Amokachi, Afro-beats legend Femi Kuti, musicians such as D’banj, Banky W, Peter Okoye of P-Sqaure, illBliss, Arsenal FC legend Ian Wright, sport correspondents Filippo Ricci, Grant Wahl, Oluwatoyin Ibitoye, John Bennett, African football legend Mido and several others pays tribute to Stephen Keshi.
So sad to hear about the premature death of Stephen Keshi Got to know him quite well, a pioneer for African football pic.twitter.com/SoQVQDTR8q
— Filippo Ricci (@filippomricci) June 8, 2016
Stephen Keshi;Light out for the Big Boss;A football Titan is gone.We have lost a great man who made a greater… https://t.co/iMn6OsXiOH
— Senator Shehu Sani (@shehusani) June 8, 2016
Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) also report the passing out Stephen Keshi.
Former Nigeria Captain and Coach, Stephen Keshi, is dead. Reports say the legend died in the early hours of Wednesday, RIP Big Boss.
— The NFF (@thenff) June 8, 2016
That @SecondCaptains audio bed has ruined any chance that my brain can process/react to Stephen Keshi’s death in any kind of respectful way.
— Ian Wright (@ihwright) June 8, 2016
😢We mourn with the entire nation on the death of the ‘big boss’ Stephen Keshi. We pray for the family & ask that he Rest In Peace #RIPKeshi
— Heartland FC (@HeartlandFC_ng) June 8, 2016
Stephen Keshi? Oh, l’m truly sad. He was special, representing a bridge between what was and what could be. We chose what was. Rest boss.
— Funmi Iyanda (@Funmilola) June 8, 2016
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle”. RIP Stephen Keshi.
— PrincessTosynBucknor (@TosynBucknor) June 8, 2016
Very sad to hear about Stephen Keshi’s passing. A true Nigerian football legend. RIP.
— Daniel Amokachi (@FrenzziiiBull) June 8, 2016
Rest in perfect Peace Stephen Keshi….. what a Loss
— iLLYGAti!!!! (@illBlissGoretti) June 8, 2016
Without any doubt, the @NGSuperEagles have not had a more effective, charismatic & influential captain since Stephen Keshi #RIPStephenKeshi.
— Oluwatoyin Ibitoye (@Toyin_Ibitoye) June 8, 2016
He made us proud! Still in shock!!! RIP to the great Coach Stephen Keshi🙏🏽😢😕 #OMG
— Peter Okoye MrP (@PeterPsquare) June 8, 2016
Stunned & shaken by the passing of Stephen Keshi at 54. Lived in US for many years. Deserved world coach of the year consideration in 2013.
— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) June 8, 2016
Sad News. R.I.P Stephen Keshi. LEGEND!!! pic.twitter.com/bT5lZ0Wkfh
— Wande Coal (@wandecoal) June 8, 2016
News of the demise of Stephen Keshi has just reached me. It is a sad day for Nigerian football. My prayers are with his family #RIPKeshi
— Rauf Aregbesola (@raufaregbesola) June 8, 2016
Oh My God! hmm… Rest in Peace Stephen Keshi
— D’banj D Kokomaster (@iamdbanj) June 8, 2016
I woke up to the devastating news of coach Stephen Keshi’s death. I am still in shock. Sad sad day for Nigeria.
— JJ. Omojuwa (@Omojuwa) June 8, 2016
Stephen Keshi also a trailblazer & strong advocate for African coaches – first African coach to lead a team to the last 16 of a World Cup.
— John Bennett (@JohnBennettBBC) June 8, 2016
What a sad news..Stephen keshi has passed away..#RIPKeshi
— Mido (@midoahm) June 8, 2016
Saddened by news of the death of former #SuperEagles coach Stephen Keshi. My deepest condolences to his family and people of #Nigeria
— Paul Arkwright (@PaulTArkwright) June 8, 2016
I feel anguished waking up to the news that Stephen Keshi, former Super Eagles captain and coach has passed on.
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) June 8, 2016
Truth is, death apart, I felt that someday you would still have made it back as national coach. You were #TheBoss. Adieu Stephen Keshi.
— Wale Adenuga (@adenuga_wale) June 8, 2016
Shocking sad news of the passing of Stephen Keshi RIP we pray for his family.
— Femi Anikulapo -Kuti (@Femiakuti) June 8, 2016