Soccer

Former Nigeria manager Stephen Keshi dies, aged 54

The legendary manager led the Super Eagles to the African Cup of Nations title in 1994

Stephen Keshi died in Nigeria at the age of 54. As a player, Keshi made over 60 appearances for the Nigerian national team from 1981 to 1995, and was a member of the national team that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1994. After retiring as a player, Keshi coached the Nigerian national team, leading the team to the Nations Cup title in 2013 and the knockout round the 2014 World Cup. Photo: EPA
Stephen Keshi died in Nigeria at the age of 54. As a player, Keshi made over 60 appearances for the Nigerian national team from 1981 to 1995, and was a member of the national team that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1994. After retiring as a player, Keshi coached the Nigerian national team, leading the team to the Nations Cup title in 2013 and the knockout round the 2014 World Cup. Photo: EPA
Wed Jun 08 2016 - 10:07

Stephen Keshi, who won the African Nations Cup as a player and manager with Nigeria, has died at the age of 54, the Nigeria Football Federation has announced.

Keshi skippered the Super Eagles to Nations Cup glory in 1994 and was in charge of the side that won the competition three years ago.

The NFF said on Twitter: “Nigeria legend, Stephen Keshi, dies at 54. Reports say the legend died in the early hours of Wednesday, RIP Big Boss.”

Keshi earned the first of his 64 caps for Nigeria in 1981 and was an integral part of a backline that won the Nations Cup in 1994 and reached the last-16 of that year’s World Cup.

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His playing career also included a spell with Belgian club Anderlecht before he turned his hand to management, with three spells in charge of Togo and a two-year tenure with Mali.

He took the reins at Nigeria in 2011 and became only the second man to win the Nations Cup as a player and manager when the Super Eagles defeated Burkina Faso in the final two years later.

Their run in the 2014 World Cup ended in the second round after a 2-0 defeat to France and he departed his post last year.