Nigeria football icon Stephen Keshi goes home, buried in home town

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Former Nigeria captain and coach, Stephen Keshi has been laid to rest in his home town of Illah in Delta State on Friday.

The legend died of cardiac arrest on June 8 at the age of 54, months after the demise of his wife Kate.

A novelty match graced by his former teammates was played at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium which ended 1-1, shortly after a requiem mass at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Benin City on Thursday.

In the early hours of Friday, his remains was taken to the Ogbelani Palace for traditional rites as a palace chief, as lying-in-state followed at his home in Ukpologwu Quarters, Illah.

Afterwards, a requiem mass was held at St. John The Evangelist Catholic Church before his interment.

The ‘Big Boss’, who picked up 64 caps and nine goals for Nigeria, captained the Super Eagles to win the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations as well as their first appearance at the World Cup in the USA.

After a stints in charge of Togo and Mali national teams, he led Nigeria to success at Afcon 2013 where they won after 19 years, and also reached the Second Round of the 2014 Fifa World Cup Brazil.

His side failed to qualify for the 2015 Afcon which led to his third and final disengagement by the Nigeria Football Federation after a long and fractious relationship.

Keshi was the only Nigerian coach to have won the Africa Cup of Nations and second African to win the trophy both as a player and a coach.

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