Sports
2021: Deaths That Shook Nigerian Sport Industry
- Painful deaths that shook Nigerian sport in 2021
EKO HOT BLOG reports that the year 2021 came with lots of unexpected surprises, in sport Nigeria experienced the passing on to glory of sports men which affected sports in Nigeria.
Let’s take a look at some of those sports men with whom we began 2021 but whom are no more today.
Joe erico
The former Super Eagles goalkeeper died within weeks of the new year in his sleep at age 71.
He is survived by a wife and four children.
Erico, along with Shaibu Amodu and Stephen Keshi, all late, led the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2002 World Cup co-hosted by South Korea and Japan.
Unfortunately, the Nigerian Football Federation denied the trio the possibility of leading the Eagles to the World Cup, as they opted for Adegboye Onigbinde to lead Nigeria to that edition of the World Cup.
Yisa shofoluwe
The death of the former Super Eagles defender was a severe blow to many who never knew he was battling illness.
The 53-year-old man died in February 2021, after being diagnosed with mild brain atrophy at Prince and Life Medical Hospital, Ikorodu, Lagos.
He finally delivered the ghost in the University Hospital of the University of Lagos, LUTH after his medical condition worsened.
Affectionately known as the ‘Dean of Defense’, Sofoluwe played 40 games for the national team.
He was a member of the Eagles squads that reached the finals of the AFCON tournaments in 1984 and 1988.
Barnabas Imenger
The former Super Eagles midfielder was the manager of the NPFL-side team, Lobi Stars, until his death.
Imenger died at the Abuja National Hospital in March 2021 after several days at the Federal Medical Center, Makurdi, Benue State.
Imenger was part of the Super Eagles in the mid-1990s and was part of the team that played in the 1995 FIFA Confederations Cup (King Fahd Cup) in Saudi Arabia.
He was the second youngest member of that team at 19 years old.
Beautiful Oyebanji
This was another sad case of a bright light being cut off abruptly.
Oyebanji, who was the head coach of the Kwara state badminton team, lost his life in a horrific car accident along the Oyo / Ogbomosho highway in April.
The national para-badminton player was on his way to Lagos to obtain his visa before an Olympic qualifier to prepare for the Tokyo Paralympic Games when he lost his life.
Among other accolades, Oyebanji won two bronze medals in the men’s individual SL3 category and the double category at the first African International Para-Badminton Championships in 2016 in Kampala, Uganda.
He was also a triple gold medalist at the African Para-Badminton Championships in 2018.
Kashimawo Laloko
The former Technical Director of Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) He died in March at the Catholic Hospital of the Sacred Heart, Abeokuta at the age of 76.
In addition to being vocal and critical on soccer issues, we knew the veteran coach for his invaluable contributions to the Pepsi Football Academy.
The Academy nurtured many soccer talents in Nigeria to stardom. This list includes Mikel Obi, Osaze Odemwingie, Soga Sambo, Elderson Echiejile, Joseph Akpala, Yinka Adedeji, among many others.
Laloko also had a season as coach of the Gambia national team.
Adamu Ejo
The head coach of the Nigerian national beach soccer team, affectionately referred to as the Super Sand Eagles, died in May.
He was receiving treatment for diabetes before his death.
Adamu, prior to his death, accomplished much with the country’s beach soccer team, including inspiring them to win a Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations title in Durban, South Africa.
He also led the country to four Beach Soccer World Cup tournaments and the Lagos Cup three times.
Adamu most recently managed the Kogi Beach Soccer club, winning various national and international competitions, including a silver at the Keta Cup in Ghana in 2016.
Paul kehinde
A world record holder until his death, the late Powerlifter is a testament to the claim that there is capacity in disability.
Kehinde died on Thursday (November 18) in Lagos at the age of 33.
He made his international debut in 2010 and won his first major title at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Kehinde became Paralympic champion at Rio 2016 in the men’s up to 65kg category and took the world title in the same event at the 2017 Mexico City World Championships.
He still holds the world record (221 kg) in the men’s up to 65 kg set at the 2018 Dubai World Cup.
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