Former Nigeria coach and captain, Stephen Keshi is dead

Former coach of Nigeria’s national football team, Stephen Keshi has been confirmed dead in the early hours of Wednesday.

#BREAKING: Former Nigerian Coach and Football Icon Stephen Keshi has died

— africanews (@africanews) June 8, 2016

Keshi, who is 54 years old, died of cardiac arrest in Benin City in the southern part of Nigeria, his family confirmed to local media on Wednesday.

The Nigeria Football Federation also announced the death of the Big Boss, as he is nicknamed, on Twitter.

Former Nigeria Captain and Coach, Stephen Keshi, is dead. Reports say the legend died in the early hours of Wednesday, RIP Big Boss.

— The NFF (@thenff) June 8, 2016

Stephen Keshi lost his wife, who was battling with cancer for 3 years, in December 2015. He was expected to return to his base in the US today, his family is reported to have said.

Stephen is one of two African players to have won the Africa Cup of Nations as a player and a coach, in 1994 and 2013 respectively. with the Super Eagles.

He was the first African coach to successfully qualify two African countries, Togo and Nigeria, to the World Cup in Germany (2006) and Brazil (2014) respectively.

Stephen Keshi’s contract with the Nigeria Football federation was not renewed in July 2015 after a series of controversies and losses with the Super Eagles.

Stephen Keshi left behind four children.