Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, a former coach of the Nigerian national football team, the Super Eagles, is reportedly dead. The Cable reports that the football legend died in the early hours of Wednesday, June 8, in Benin City, Edo state. The sudden demise of the former international was confirmed by his relatives and close associates. “He was not ill at all, never showed any signs of illness, but we suspect he never got over the death of his wife,” one of his close friends said. The Nigeria Football Federation also confirmed the tragic news on its official Twitter handle. Nigeria legend, Stephen Keshi, dies at 54 — The NFF (@thenff) June 8, 2016 Former Nigeria Captain and Coach, Stephen Keshi, is dead. Reports say the legend died in the early hours of Wednesday, RIP Big Boss. — The NFF (@thenff) June 8, 2016 According to family sources, Keshi complained of being unwell just before midnight on Tuesday, June 7, and he was found to be gasping for breath. He was rushed to Faith Hospital in the Benin Government Reservation Area, where he died around 00.30 this morning. His body has been deposited at the Central Hospital in the city. Last year, Keshi lost his wife of 33 years , Kate, after a prolonged battle with cancer. He is survived by four children and his mother. The family has already released an official statement announcing his death. The statement signed by Emmanuel Ado was titled: “Stephen Keshi CON has gone to be with his wife”. “With thanksgiving to God, the Ogbuenyi Fredrick Keshi family of Illah in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, announces the death of Mr. Stephen Okechukwu Chinedu Keshi,” Ado wrote. “Our son, brother, father, father-in-law,brother-in-law, has gone to be with his wife of 35 years (Nkem), Mrs. Kate Keshi, who passed on on the 9th December 2015. “Since her death, Keshi has been in mourning. He came back to Nigeria to be with her. He had planned to fly back today Wednesday, before he suffered a cardiac arrest. He has found rest. “We thank God for his life. We want to ask for understanding in this very difficult time for the family.” Keshi, who was a famous and notable figure in the football industry, was popularly called the Big Boss. He is the only Nigerian coach to have won the Africa Cup of Nations. He also became the second person in history to win the competition as a player and as a coach, when he led the Super Eagles to win the tournament in 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
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