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ABUJA, June 9 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian government has vowed to seek ways to immortalize Stephen Keshi, former coach and captain of Nigeria's national soccer team, who died early Wednesday at 54, a senior official said on Thursday.
Keshi deserved to be immortalized, having served as one of the longest captains of the Nigerian soccer team and a legend of the round-leather game, Minister of Youth and Sports Solomon Dalung told reporters here.
The minister said Keshi contributed greatly to the development and popularity of football in Nigeria, and his sojourn to Europe as a player opened the floodgates for other Nigerian players to go abroad and play football.
"Keshi during his life time was an embodiment of all that was good about Nigerian Football," he added.
Nicknamed the "Big Boss", Keshi had captained Nigeria between 1983 and 1994. In the process he won the gold, silver and bronze medals at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
He also led the country to qualify for its first FIFA World Cup finals in 1994, and captained the Eagles at the FIFA World Cup in the U.S. in the same year. Enditem
