Fans, football bodies and players have paid tribute to former Super Eagles player and head coach Stephen Keshi, four years after his death.
Keshi was born on January 23, 1962 in Azare, Bauchi State. He hailed from Illah in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State and was of Igbo descent.
Keshi passed away at 54 after suffering a heart attack on June 7, 2016 in Benin city, Edo state – six months after losing his wife Kate to cancer.
During his playing career, Keshi earned 64 caps and nine goals for the nation’s football team, making him one of the most capped player in Nigeria at the time of his retirement in 1981.
He represented the country at the 1994 FIFA World Cup and the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations, captaining the Super Eagles to victory in the latter.
Late Keshi also played club football in five countries, most notably Belgium, where he won the Belgian league championship in 1991.
As a manager, Keshi achieved success by qualifying Togo for the only FIFA World Cup appearance in its history in 2006.
However, he left the position prior to the tournament and was replaced by Otto Pfister.
Keshi later coached Nigerian team, where he became the second, after Egypt’s Mahmoud El-Gohary, to have won the Africa Cup of Nations as both a player and a coach.
He managed the team to the Fifa Confederation Cup 2013 and 2014 Fifa World Cup and became the first African coach to reach the knockout stage, where they fell to France in the Round of 16.
See tributes for late Stephen Keshi below;
Assistant coach of Super Eagles and former Nigerian player, Joseph Yobo wrote on Instagram;
Dear coach, it’s 4 years today since you left us to rest with the Lord.
You are dearly missed but your legacy lives on!
Rest On The Big Boss.
International governing body of football, FIFA tweeted;
Stephen Keshi led the Nigerian Super Eagles to Africa Cup of Nations glory as player & coach, & was the first African coach to qualify two African nations for the World Cup. We sadly lost a legend on this day in 2016.
Today we remember Captain Fantastic, Stephen Keshi, who left our world on this sad day 4 years ago 🕯️
In 2013 Keshi became the second person to win the #TotalAFCON title as player (1994) and coach, when he led @NGSuperEagles to their third trophy in South Africa. pic.twitter.com/XeSBqoJXjz
— CAF (@CAF_Online) June 7, 2020
How Keshi Predicted His Death
When he lost Kate, his soulmate and wife in 2015, Stephen Keshi said the world had lost its meaning and sees no reason to live. He was devastated and died 6 months later in 2016 from a heart attack.
Skippo would’ve been 60 today. RIP The Big Boss. pic.twitter.com/OMS5big7wW— Godwin Enakhena (@genakhena) June 7, 2020
On this day 4 years ago, we lost The Big Boss, Stephen Keshi.. Former super eagles player and coach.
We remember you today pic.twitter.com/muuAdYh4mA
— Nigeria Stories (@NigeriaStories) June 7, 2020
“People don’t have to believe in you for you to succeed. Just work hard, when you succeed, they will believe.”
Four years ago today, you left us. May you always rest in power Stephen Keshi. Always remembered. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/3s0Jrp3agr
— Usher Komugisha (@UsherKomugisha) June 7, 2020
4 years ago!
I was in Ede, Osun State.
I woke up and the first news I received, the Big Boss is gone.
How?
It was a shocking news.
Rest on Stephen Keshi.
He won AFCON as Player and Coach. pic.twitter.com/rQThlQKlVE
— Adepoju Tobi Samuel (@OgaNlaMedia) June 7, 2020
Exactly 4yrs after his death, Stephen Keshi legacy has never taken off. Africa should have perpetuated his dream to invest in grooming local and African coaches; giving them time, attention & consideration for them to fulfil their duties in compliance with contractual obligations pic.twitter.com/T0rHpqDlel
— Jeff Katala (@thejeffkatala) June 7, 2020
Father, Legend, Captain & Leader
Coach Stephen Keshi died on this day in 2016.
First African to qualify 2 different nations to the World Cup.
Second man to win AFCON as player & coach.
Only African coach to appear in the knockout phase of a WorldCup.pic.twitter.com/RQfRVxW8HD
— Oluwashina Okeleji (@oluwashina) June 7, 2020
On this day, 2016 📆
Stephen Keshi passes on.
He remains the only man after Mahmoud El-Gohary to win the Africa Cup of Nations as a player and coach. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/u6mPlh1jxv
— Goal Africa (@GoalAfrica) June 7, 2020
On this day 4 years ago, we lost The Big Boss, Stephen Keshi
His memory lives on #RIPstephenKeshi 🙏🏽 🌹
(📸 Ian Walton – Getty Images) pic.twitter.com/v1XKd4R9vX
— Football Fans Tribe 🇳🇬 ⚽ (@FansTribeHQ) June 7, 2020
Heroes are never forgotten
Rest on Stephen Keshi pic.twitter.com/SPiywOB7cJ— Favourite (@HudungD) June 7, 2020
On this day, 4 years ago Stephen Keshi passed on after a brief illness.
He remains Nigeria’s most successful coach winning the AFCON title as a player and a coach.
Keshi also qualified Togo for the 2006 World Cup but did not lead the team to Germany. RIP, Big Boss. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/3NOiVxBWlR
— Journalist Ibitoye (@IbiShittu) June 7, 2020
Remembering Stephen Okechukwu Keshi
On this day in 2016, Stephen Keshi passed away. In his life time, he was a native of Illah of Igbo decent, in Oshimili North L. G. A, Delta state.
He led the Super Eagles to glory in Afcon 94 championship, as captain. 👇🏾👇🏾 https://t.co/DrYTkcrwdg
— Kawuriz & Manilas Publishers Ltd (@Kawuriz_Manilas) June 7, 2020
Rest in peace Stephen Keshi
It’s two years today that you hung your boot and closed your eyes to take an eternal rest
You remain the only player and coach in the history of Nigerian football to win the @CAF_Online AFCON
RIP Big Boss pic.twitter.com/nx4Ars3WcJ
— Oni Guarantor (@Guarantor2011) June 7, 2020
Stephen Keshi- Captain, Leader, Legend. Four years today. Rest on, Big Boss. pic.twitter.com/VpWTBVXubV
— Dr. Mohammed Amali 🇳🇬 (@MoAmali) June 7, 2020
4 years since the passing of Stephen Keshi. Still remember our last phone conversation, 4 days before U died.
Only 2nd man in history to win AFCON as a player & coach
Only African coach to reach the knockout phase of a World Cup
Legends never die. History maker #nigeria pic.twitter.com/qh3UEes8Om
— Mimi Fawaz (@MimosaFawaz) June 7, 2020
Stephen Keshi’s last goal in the AFCON. In all he scored 4 goals appearing in 6 tournaments not a bad stats for a defender
2 goals in 1982
1 goal in 1984
1 goal in 1992 pic.twitter.com/zTB7blxz5a— AfricaFootballClassics (@AfricaClassic) April 9, 2020
