Keshi to be Honoured Ten Years After His Death

Ten years after he passed away, former Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi will have his name added to the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs Sports Diplomacy Wall of Fame. This is to honour his contributions to Nigerian football, as reported by The PUNCH.

Segun Odegbami, a former captain of the Super Eagles, confirmed this news during a memorial lecture for the late coach in Lagos.

The NIIA Sports Diplomacy Wall of Fame is a national monument set up by the Federal Government. It aims to honour Nigerians who have significantly contributed to Nigeria’s international politics and diplomatic goals through sports.

Keshi’s work as a sports diplomat and his impact on Nigeria’s foreign relations through football will be highlighted at a ceremony. This event is scheduled for July 28, which is one day before the 10th anniversary of his burial.

The ceremony will also mark three years since the monument was put up at the NIIA in Lagos. It is sponsored by Dr Allen Onyema and Air Peace.

“The existing list will now be extended to include the name of former Nigerian Green Eagles captain and national team coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, CON. He has been considered worthy, and his contributions identified, justified and approved by the NIIA,” Odegbami said.

Odegbami added, “Stephen Keshi played and captained the Nigerian national football team. He also coached and managed the National team of Nigeria to an African Cup victory. He qualified and took another African national team, Togo, to the FIFA World Cup. He opened the way and assisted a whole generation of Nigerian and other African football players in the transition to professional ranks in Europe.”

Keshi died on June 7, 2016, at the age of 54 in Benin City, Edo State. He was buried at his hometown in Illah, Delta State.

He won the Africa Cup of Nations both as captain of the Super Eagles in 1994 and as coach in 2013. The former player for Anderlecht also led Nigeria to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

The man affectionately known as ‘Big Boss’ was named CAF Coach of the Year twice, in 2005 and 2013.