Nigeria Technical Director Shuaibu Amadu had died-PHOTO/AGENCIES
ABUJA, Nigeria, June 11- The Nigerian football fraternity has been thrown into mourning again, just three days after the death of former coach Stephen Keshi.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced that its Technical Director Shuaibu Amodu has died early Saturday morning at 58 in Southern Benin City, coincidentally the same place Keshi died in.
NFF tweeted that the ex-Super Eagles coach had complained of chest pains last evening before calmly dying in his sleep. Senior football officials told AFP Amodu was hypertensive and had been on medication.
Amodu had been Nigeria’s Technical Director since 2013.
During his time as Nigeria coach, he guided the Super Eagles to the 2002 and 2010 World Cups, though he was sacked ahead of both tournaments despite leading the side to third-place finishes at the 2002 and 2010 African Nations Cups.
When Keshi was sacked in July 2015, Amodu took over until Sunday Oliseh was appointed. Amodu and Keshi worked together as Nigeria coach and assistant coach respectively at the 2002 African Nations Cup.
Amodu also managed a number of clubs in Nigeria, including BCC Lions, as well as taking charge of South African side Orlando Pirates.
NFF president, Amaju Pinnick received the news with shock and said: “This is another tragedy too many. We are still talking about Keshi’s death, and now Amodu is gone. I’m short of words. Amodu’s name was synonymous with the Super Eagles. You can’t talk about the history of Super Eagles without Amodu getting prominent chapters.”
While Keshi is yet to be buried, his own remains will be interred later in the day in accordance with Islamic rites.
