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Former Nigerian football coach Keshi dies at 54

Xinhua, June 9, 2016 Adjust font size:

Ex-Nigerian football team coach Stephen Keshi has died at the age of 54, his family and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said.

Keshi, who lost his wife last December, died early Wednesday in the Nigerian southern city of Benin.

His family and NFF said he died of suspected cardiac arrest, after complaining of "irregular heartbeats and pains in the leg" the previous night.

In a statement signed by its president, Amaju Pinnick, the NFF described his death as "devastating", adding that it will be fully involved in the arrangements for the final burial rites of the late football coach.

Nicknamed the "Big Boss", Keshi had captained Nigeria between 1983 and 1994. In the process he won the gold, silver and bronze medals at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

He also led the country to qualify for its first FIFA World Cup finals in 1994, and captained the Eagles at the FIFA World Cup in the U.S. in the same year. Endit