Tragedy has hit Nigeria football again as former Super Eagles coach Shuaibu Amodu died just days after another national team coach Stephen Keshi passed away. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced Saturday that Amodu, 58, died after complaining of chest problems. On Wednesday, Keshi, 54, died suddenly in Benin City. Amodu, four-time Super Eagles coach, also died in his sleep in the same city. Amodu, who qualified Nigeria to two World Cups, in 2002 and 2010, was to have replaced Sunday Oliseh, who quit as the country’s coach in February, but he declined on health grounds. Amodu Shaibu The top coach was recently appointed Nigeria technical director. Senior football officials told AFP Amodu was hypertensive and had been on medication. Keshi assisted Amodu when Nigeria qualified for the 2002 World Cup. Amodu rose to prominence when he guided BCC Lions of Gboko to win the Africa Cup Winners Cup in 1991. He was subsequently rewarded with leading the Super Eagles in 1994. He would take up this post at least three other times during which time he qualified the country to two World Cups. But on both occasions he was not the man in charge at the final tournaments.
Coaching career
Amodu has managed a number of club sides in Nigeria, such as BCC Lions, El-Kanemi Warriors, and Shooting Stars; he also managed Orlando Pirates in South Africa.
He first managed the Nigerian national team from April 2001 to February 2002. Amodu later stated that his dismissal was “unfair”,[3] and also said that, a month later, he had yet to receive a formal letter confirming his dismissal.
He was re-appointed manager in April 2008. In December 2009 the Nigeria Football Federation stated that Amodu was under pressure, and in January 2010 there was speculation about his future. He was sacked in February 2010.
Amodu was appointed technical director of Nigeria’s national teams in May 2013.
He was re-appointed Nigeria manager in October 2014, replacing Stephen Keshi. It was his fifth spell in charge of the country.Keshi returned to the role two weeks later but was fired in July 2015 and Amodu took over the Eagles again temporarily. He was replaced by Sunday Oliseh on a permanent basis later that month.
Amodu died on 10 June 2016.
with online reports
