Stephen Keshi, the Nigerian soccer player and coach known as “Big Boss” because of his charismatic leadership, has died. He was 54.
Keshi, one of only two men to win the African Cup of Nations as a coach and a player, died Wednesday after being rushed to the hospital in Benin City in southern Nigeria.
Keshi’s death was announced by the Nigerian Football Federation. NFF President Amaju Pinnick said the news was “devastating.”
Keshi captained Nigeria to the African Cup title in 1994 and was coach when Nigeria won in 2013. He also coached the Togo and Mali national teams.
His time in charge of Nigeria was marked by disputes with his NFF bosses, but Keshi was so popular that former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan once personally intervened to make sure he remained as the national coach.
