NFF mourns Okey Isima

The Nigeria Football Federation has expressed deep shock at news of the death of former international defender Okechukwu Isima, MON, which unfortunate incident occurred in the Federal Capital, Abuja on Monday.

“The news of the departure of Okey Isima, MON at a time we are still celebrating the Super Eagles’ triumph at the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa hit us like a thunderbolt. He was a gentleman on and off the field.

“We are deeply saddened by his death and we pray that the Almighty God will grant him eternal rest and grant those he has left behind, including the Nigeria football family, the fortitude to bear the loss,” said Chief Emeka Inyama, Chairman of the NFF Media and Publicity Committee.

Better known as Okey Isima, the renowned left back won the Africa Cup of Nations trophy with the Green Eagles in 1980 and also played for Nigeria at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow as well as the 1982 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Libya.

He played for a few more years with the Eagles after the Libya ’82 adventure, scoring a famous goal in the 1-0 defeat of Tunisia in a 1986 FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Lagos in 1985.