Nigerians mourn former national team coach Keshi
Xinhua, June 9, 2016 Adjust font size:
Nigerians from all walks of lives are reacting to the sudden death of former Super Eagles Captain and Coach, Stephen Keshi.
The coach died in the early hours of Wednesday after complaining of irregular heartbeats and pain in his legs.
Keshi was the longest serving national football captain in Nigeria, with 64 caps, and the first to win the African Cup of Nations both as a player, in 1994, and a national coach in 2013.
In a statement, President Muhammadu Buhari described Keshi as a great sportsman, football player and coach.
"Nigeria today lost a great sportsman, football player, coach and a citizen," he said.
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo also issued a statement commiserating with the family of the late soccer star who died at the age of 54.
Senate President Bukola Saraki, Minister of State for Aviation Hadi Sirika, and many politicians expressed their mourning of Keshi, who achieved an incredible career, both as a player and as a coach.
After having played mostly with French and Belgian clubs, Keshi coached Togo to its first ever World Cup in 2006 in Germany. Endit