Ex Super Eagles Coach Amodu Shuaibu Dies at Age 58

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced the shocking death of another former Super Eagles coach, Shuaibu Amodu at the age of 58.

Another tragedy struck Nigerian football again early on Saturday morning, when former Super Eagles coach and Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amodu Shuaibu, died in his sleep in Benin City, Edo State.

Shuaibu passed away merely 3 days after the death of former Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi.

His remains were deposited at the morgue of the Stella Obasanjo Hospital in Benin City, before he was buried on Saturday evening in his hometown Okpella, Etsako East Local Government Area, according to Muslim rites.

He is survived by his wife, eight children, and an aged mother.

Amodu’s eldest son Abdul-Aziz, 26, told Punch that his father spoke of his death during their last conversation on Friday, 9th of June, 2016.

Abdul-Aziz, a graduate from Igbinedion University, Okada, said: “I am getting set for the National Youth Service Corps programme this month.

”So, I called him (Amodu) yesterday (Friday) to discuss with him but he didn’t pick my call. He called back and told me that he was very busy. He promised to come to Okpella today (Saturday), so that we could see.

”He briefly said something about death when I asked about (Stephen) Keshi. He said Keshi was not buried immediately because he was not a Muslim. He told me that if he died he would be buried immediately. Then today, I got the news that he was dead.”

Abdul-Aziz said he was in great shock when he received the sad news of his father’s death.

“We were not even told that he was taken to a hospital. He doesn’t fast naturally. For the past few years, he stopped fasting due to his health condition. I don’t know what happened this year that he decided to fast. When I asked him about fasting, he said he just felt like he could do it,” he added.

A family member, Akuri Afegbua, said the former Eagles coach died after complaints of chest pain and his inability to get the money NFF owed him, adding that his financial status had made it difficult for him to take care of himself and his immediate family.

As the federation’s technical director, Amodu was reportedly on N800,000 per month but without an office and official accommodation.

Afegbua said Amodu had travelled to Benin to demand for the payment of his outstanding entitlements.

“I think he died of frustration due to his financial status. He was not paid (by the NFF). He was complaining of not being paid and had no money to maintain himself and his immediate family. I think the purpose of his being in Benin was to put in a bill for his payment, (from) both the NFF and the state government,” he said.

“We were together on Friday. In the afternoon, he called to say that he was feeling some pains on the left side of his chest and he called in a doctor. The doctor checked his blood pressure; he had 140 over 100. The doctor told him it was not bad, that he could continue with his fasting,” Afegbua said.

He added that it was shocking when they found Amodu dead at about 4am on Saturday.

“Apart from his complaint of chest pains, he was perfectly okay. We came back on Saturday morning to wake him up but found him dead,” Afegbua said.

Ex-international aide Peterside Idah has said the Nigeria Football Federation owes the late coach seven months’ salary.

Photo credit: Punch