It is a coincidence that Nigeria is struggling to justify their high ratings as one of the best football playing nations in the world today in Cote D’Ivoire where Stephen Keshi began his glorious journey into exporting Nigerian talents abroad while still a player. This is therefore a tribute to the Big Boss, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, one of Nigeria’s greatest football players and coaches.
Watching our national team’s sloppy performances thus far, I can’t help but wonder how far our football would have progressed if Keshi had been allowed to finish what he started. I am also curious whether anyone representing Nigeria in Cote D’Ivoire remembers that our all foreign based team have a responsibility to justify themselves in that country where the journey to playing foreign professional football began with Stephen Keshi ‘s pioneering and kindhearted spirit.
Stephen Keshi would have turned 62 years old today.
He was a legend, a leader, and an innovator in African football.
He led the Super Eagles to victory in the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations and coached them again in 2013.
He was the first African coach to qualify two nations for the World Cup and the second-ever winner of the Africa Cup as a player and Coach making him arguably The Lord of African Nation’s Cup competition.
He inspired generations of athletes and coaches with his passion, vision, and bravery.
He demonstrated that indigenous solutions can overcome challenges, and African football can compete with the best in the world.
He was a proud Nigerian son, a dedicated servant of Africa, and a global ambassador for the beautiful game.
Some of Stephen Keshi’s other achievements are:
- He was the nation’s second-most capped player at the time of his retirement, with 60 caps for the Nigeria national team.
- He won the Belgian league championship with R.S.C. Anderlecht in 1991.
- He was the first African coach to qualify two nations for the World Cup, Togo in 2006 and Nigeria in 2014.
- He was the only black African to coach in the knockout phase of a World Cup, leading Nigeria to the round of 16 in 2014.
- He was the second person ever to win the Africa Cup of Nations as both a player and a coach, after Egypt’s Mahmoud El-Gohary.
- He was awarded the Africa Coach of the Year by the Confederation of African Football in 2013.
He left us far too soon, but his memory lives on in our hearts and minds.
We salute you, Stephen Keshi, and appreciate your contributions to our continent’s progress and development.
Rest in peace, Big Boss. You will not be forgotten. The question on everyone ‘s lips: Would The Super Eagles of Nigeria display the determination that was the Hallmark of Stephen Keshi and win this 2024 edition of the Cup in his honour?
Watch Other Relationship Videos
https://www.youtube.com/feed/clips
Please remember to subscribe for more videos
LEAVE US A COMMENT BELOW
feedback
Do You Like This Website?
We would like to hear from you whether you enjoyed reading the articles published here. If you do, please leave us a Comment or simple LIKE but if NOT tell us why you didn’t like it. Don’t forget to SHARE them with others!
Thank you very much.
COMMENT
Let’s make something together
Get new posts delivered to your inbox.
Asoya Relationship Musings - ARM 
Leave a comment