NAIROBI, Kenya, May 11, 2026 – Harambee Stars and Gor Mahia legend Allan Thigo, who passed away on Saturday, is set to be cremated in the next 72 hours.
In a statement, the deceased’s son, Philip Thigo, says the cremation will be done in accordance with his father’s wishes.
“We are grateful for the many messages of condolence, love and support received during this difficult time. In accordance with his wishes, he will be cremated within 72 hours,” Philip said.
While expressing gratitude for the many messages of condolence, love and support, Phillip further asked for privacy for the family at this trying moment.
“While he was a public figure, his later life was private; therefore, during this critical period, as we honour his wishes, we ask for prayers and privacy as we say our final farewell,” he said.
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗼
— Amb. Philip, Thigo, MBS (@pthigo) May 11, 2026
𝖨𝗍 𝗂𝗌 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝖽𝖾𝖾𝗉 𝗌𝖺𝖽𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗐𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗇𝖿𝗂𝗋𝗆, 𝖺𝗌 𝗁𝖺𝗌 𝖻𝖾𝖾𝗇 𝗐𝗂𝖽𝖾𝗅𝗒 𝗋𝖾𝗉𝗈𝗋𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗆𝖾𝖽𝗂𝖺, 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗉𝖺𝗌𝗌𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗈𝖿 𝖻𝖾𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾𝖽… pic.twitter.com/KcjqjBzxiV
Thigo, who came to prominence with the record FKF Premier League champions, passed away on Saturday night at his Bungoma home after a long battle with cancer.
Known affectionately as the ’90-minute man’, among many other nicknames, Thigo scored 88’goals for K’Ogalo to become the club’s second highest scorer after Sammy ‘Jogoo’ Onyango.
He was part of Gor’s legendary squad that won the 1976 league title unbeaten, in addition to reaching the final of the 1979 Africa Winners’ Cup (now known as the Confederations Cup).
On both occasions, he doubled up as a player-coach.
Eulogising his father, Philip described him as a father.
“Many knew him through the names he earned in football — the ’90-minute man’, ‘Midfield general’, ‘Ogango wuon pap’, ‘the Owner of the Field’, and ‘The Professor’. To us, he was simply Baba,” he said.
Various stakeholders in Kenyan football have paid tribute to a man who also played 86 times for the national team, Harambee Stars, including Gor Mahia patron Eliud Owalo.
