STEPHEN KESHI, HIS LIFE AND CAREER.

As we mourn another icon of African football gone. This is to
review the memorable moments of Stephen Keshi's life. As a player, as
a hero

Stephen Okechukwu Keshi was born on January 23, 1962 in Bauchi,
Nigeria. He was a defender, one of the best Nigeria football has ever
produced. He is also the second and last person to win the African
Nations cup as a player and as a coach till date after Egypt's Mahmoud
El-Gohary.
Keshi started his professional career with ACB Lagos in 1979, then
went on went to play for numerous clubs mainly belgian, including: New
Nigerian bank, Stade d'Abidjan, Africa Sports, Sporting Lokeren,
Anderletch Strasbourg, Hydra, Sacramento Scorpions and Perlis FC.
He played for the Nigerian national team between 1981 and 1995,
amassing a total of 64 caps and 9 goals for the national team.
After an illustrious playing career, he went through training to
launch his coaching career. He coached three teams (all national)-
Togo, Mali and Nigeria. It is on record that he coached Togo to their
first world cup tournament to much surprise. Though his efforts were
largely under played and he was replaced by a foreign coach, after
Togo's horrible displays at the 2010 world cup they had to re- engage
the service of Keshi.
He was appointed coach of Mali in 2008,but was sacked in 2010.
Then became the coach of Nigerian national team in 2011. In 2013, he
led Nigeria to victory in the African cup of nations. He handed in his
resignation a few days later, then reversed on his decision. In 2013,
he led Nigeria to the confederations cup, marking the tournament with
a resounding 6-1 thumping of minors Tahiti. In 2014, he led Nigeria to
the World Cup, after qualifying the team by beating Ethiopia in the
play-offs. He led Nigeria through to the knockout stage (narrowly
though) where they were beaten by France.
After the tournament, Keshi was embroiled in a lot of
controversies with NFF, and some people he felt were trying to mess up
his image. In 2015, NFF refused to renew his contract. Stating that he
lacked commitment and vision to lead the team.

Personal life: Keshi was married to his late wife- Kate for 33
years. She died of cancer in 2015.
As both a player and a coach,Late Stephen Keshi has 11 career
trophies, including trophies won with domestic leagues.
He died in Benin, Nigeria, in the early hours of wednesday 8th
June, 2016. He is survived by four children and his mum.