Ex-Zambia soccer chief mourns Nigeria' s Keshi

A former head of Zambia' s football governing body on Thursday expressed deep sorrow and sadness over the death of Stephen Keshi, Nigeria' s former coach who died in the early hours of Wednesday.

Former Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Kalusha Bwalya said the death of one of Nigeria' s great sports personalities has marked a sad moment for African football.

Bwalya said on his Facebook page that he was shocked by the death of Keshi whom he described as a brother.

He eulogized the late 54-year-old for his feat of being the second person to have won the Africa Cup of Nations both as a player and as a coach.

"It' s a very sad day in African football. Stephen Keshi was like a brother to me. I am shocked. We started our careers together in Belgium. Around 1985-1986. It was tough then," the 1988 African Footballer of the Year said.

According to Bwalya, Keshi was a gentleman on and off the pitch as well as a leader and a prepared coach.

Keshi, who was one of the most recognized African footballers, died in the early hours of Wednesday in Benin City, Nigeria, from cardiac arrest. Endit