ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Federal Government, Thursday, has handed over the Certificate of Occupancy and other land documents to late Stephen Keshi and 14 other members of the 1994 Super Eagles Team.
The Sport’s Legend was gifted a three-bedroom flat in Delta State.
According to a statement signed by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Blessing Lere-Adams, the handing-over ceremony was done at the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, on Thursday in Abuja.
It will be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari, early this year, promised to gift houses to twenty-two members of the 1994 Super Eagles Team from the housing units under the National Housing Programme in any state of their choice.
At the handover ceremony, Director, Public Building and Housing, Solomon Labafilo, who handed over the C of O on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, assured that the remaining nine members will receive their homes and the C of O soon.
He said that they will receive them in any of the National Housing Estates of their choice across the country such as in Imo, Abia, Ondo and Bayelsa states.
Labafilo added that late Stephen Keshi’s family opted to have his allocated to him in Delta State, his home state where he was also laid to rest.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Ifeanyi Mudabai, expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for redeeming the promise after 28 years.
Ifeanyi, who is late Stephen Kechi’s uncle, applauded the Minister of works and housing, Babatunde Fashola, for the thoughtful initiation of fulfilling the promise through the National Housing Programme.
The former Nigerian soccer star and head coach of the country’s national team, died in June 2016, at the age of 54.
Keshi occupies a special place in African soccer lore.
Keshi is one of just two people in history to win the Africa Cup of Nations as a player and a coach. The other is Mahmoud El-Gohary of Egypt, who died in 2012.
A standout defender, Keshi was a guiding force on Nigeria’s national team throughout his prime.
One of the seminal moments of his playing career came in 1994 when he helped lead the Super Eagles to their second Africa Cup of Nations title.
Nineteen years later, Keshi coached Nigeria to its third Africa Cup of Nations championship with a 1-0 triumph over Burkina Faso.
In 2014, Keshi guided Nigeria out of Group F play at the World Cup and into the knockout rounds for the first time since 1998.
According to BBC.com: “The achievement also made Keshi the first African coach to lead the Super Eagles past the group stage.”
Before Keshi served as Nigeria’s head coach, he briefly held down posts as the head coach of both Togo and Mali’s national teams.
According to FIFA.com, Keshi tallied 20 wins, nine draws and eight losses as a coach in all FIFA tournaments.
He made 64 career appearances for the Super Eagles from 1981-1995.