Off the wire
• Ghana's capital flooded following downpour  • Latvia authorizes armed forces to destroy drones flying over military facilities  • Across China: Witness recalls trial of Japanese war criminals 60 years ago  • LME base metals mostly decrease on Thursday  • China, Nepal vow to boost military ties  • JSE slumps downwards Thursday  • U.S. stocks tick down on oil slide  • Tanzanian tourism players protest against VAT on tourism services  • Israeli cabinet approves punitive measures after Tel Aviv shooting attack  • British IS suspect's parents charged with terrorism offense  
You are here: 　 Home

Nigeria seeks to immortalize late soccer coach Keshi: minister

Xinhua, June 10, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Nigerian government has vowed to seek ways to immortalize Stephen Keshi, former coach and captain of Nigeria's national soccer team, who died early Wednesday at 54, a senior official said on Thursday.

Keshi deserved to be immortalized, having served as one of the longest captains of the Nigerian soccer team and a legend of the round-leather game, Minister of Youth and Sports Solomon Dalung told reporters here.

The minister said Keshi contributed greatly to the development and popularity of football in Nigeria, and his sojourn to Europe as a player opened the floodgates for other Nigerian players to go abroad and play football.

"Keshi during his life time was an embodiment of all that was good about Nigerian Football," he added.

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