Ex-Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi Gets Posthumous NIIA Honour

Ten years after his death, former Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, will be honoured by the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) for his contributions to Nigerian football and sports diplomacy.

Keshi’s name will be inscribed on the NIIA Sports Diplomacy Wall of Fame in Lagos in recognition of his role in promoting Nigeria’s image and diplomatic influence through football.

The development was confirmed by former Super Eagles captain, Segun Odegbami, during the late coach’s memorial lecture in Lagos.

The NIIA Sports Diplomacy Wall of Fame is a national monument established by the Federal Government agency to honour Nigerians who have made outstanding contributions to Nigeria’s international politics and diplomatic objectives through sports.

Keshi’s contributions as a footballer, coach and sports diplomat will be formally acknowledged at a ceremony scheduled for July 28.

The date comes one day before the 10th anniversary of his burial. The event will also mark three years since the monument was erected within the premises of the NIIA in Lagos, with sponsorship from Dr Allen Onyema and Air Peace.

Speaking on the planned honour, Odegbami said Keshi had been found worthy of inclusion on the national monument.

“The existing list will now be extended to include the name of former Nigerian Green Eagles captain and national team coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, CON. He has been considered worthy, and his contributions identified, justified and approved by the NIIA,” Odegbami said.

Odegbami said Keshi’s impact went beyond his achievements with the Nigerian national team, noting that he also helped open doors for African footballers in Europe.

According to him, Keshi played a major role in shaping the pathway for Nigerian and African players to pursue professional football abroad.

“Stephen Keshi played and captained the Nigerian national football team. He also coached and managed the National team of Nigeria to an African Cup victory, qualified and took another African national team, Togo, to the FIFA World Cup, personally opened the way and assisted a whole generation of Nigerian and other African football players in the transition to professional ranks in Europe,” he added.

Naija News reports that Keshi, fondly called “Big Boss,” remains one of the most decorated figures in Nigerian football history.

He won the Africa Cup of Nations as captain of the Super Eagles in 1994 and repeated the feat as coach in 2013, becoming one of the few Africans to win the continental title both as a player and manager.

The former Anderlecht defender also led Nigeria to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Apart from his success with Nigeria, Keshi qualified Togo for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, a landmark achievement in the West African country’s football history.

He was named CAF Coach of the Year twice, in 2005 and 2013.

Keshi died on June 7, 2016, at the age of 54, in Benin City, Edo State. He was later buried in his hometown, Illah, Delta State.

His planned induction into the NIIA Sports Diplomacy Wall of Fame is expected to further cement his place as one of Nigeria’s most influential football figures and a symbol of the country’s sporting excellence on the global stage.