Stephen Keshi remains Nigeria’s greatest footballing legend and one of the most beloved figures in African football.
The memories of the late Super Eagles captain Stephen Okechukwu Keshi will never depart from the hearts of football-loving Nigerians and will remain etched in our football fabric forever.
Even in his demise, Keshi left an untouched legacy. He achieved the rare feat of winning the Africa Cup of Nations as both a player and coach, leading Nigeria to their third AFCON title in 2013.
Keshi also made history by becoming the first African coach to qualify two different nations for the World Cup, guiding Togo to their maiden FIFA World Cup qualification in 2006.
Renowned for his strategic acumen, charismatic leadership, and ability to inspire underdog teams, Keshi’s legacy continues to inspire African football.
Who was Stephen Keshi? Nigeria’s Football GOAT
Stephen Keshi was born on January 23, 1962, and had an illustrious career that spanned over three decades. As a player, Keshi was a stalwart for the Nigerian national team, earning 60 caps and becoming the country’s second-most capped player at the time of his retirement.
He was a key member of the Super Eagles team that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations and represented Nigeria at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
Keshi’s club career took him to five different countries, including Belgium, where he won the Belgian league championship with R.S.C. Anderlecht in 1991.
As a coach, Keshi achieved remarkable success, qualifying Togo for their first-ever FIFA World Cup appearance in 2006. Although he didn’t lead the team to the tournament, his legacy as a coach was cemented when he took the reins of the Nigerian national team.
Under his guidance, the Super Eagles won the Africa Cup of Nations, making Keshi one of only two people, alongside Egypt’s Mahmoud El-Gohary, to have won the tournament as both a player and a coach.
Stephen Keshi: Playing Career
Stephen Keshi’s football journey began in 1979 with ACB Lagos, before moving to New Nigerian Bank a year later. During his four-year stint, he tasted success, winning two WAFU cups.
However, his Nigerian sojourn was cut short in 1984 when the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) handed him a ban from all football activities in the country. This prompted Keshi to seek new opportunities in the Ivory Coast, where he joined Stade d’Abidjan.
The move to Stade d’Abidjan proved fruitful, as Keshi helped the team win two Coupe Houphouët-Boigny trophies within a year. He then made the switch to rivals Africa Sports, where he achieved even greater success, securing the domestic double by winning both the league and cup.
Keshi’s subsequent playing career took him to Belgium, where he enjoyed a successful spell, culminating in a Belgian league championship win with R.S.C. Anderlecht in 1991. As his playing days drew to a close, Keshi set his sights on a coaching career, heading to the United States to pursue his coaching education.
The transition from playing to coaching
Stephen Keshi’s coaching career took off when he joined the Nigerian national team’s coaching staff. One of his earliest notable roles was as head coach of the Junior Eagles at the 2001 African Youth Championship, which also served as a qualifying tournament for the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship.
Although that stint didn’t yield the desired results, Keshi’s next assignment was a remarkable success. Between 2004 and 2006, he coached the Togo national team, defying expectations by leading them to their first-ever World Cup appearance in Germany in 2006.
However, in a surprising turn of events, Keshi was replaced by German coach Otto Pfister just before the World Cup finals, following Togo’s disappointing performance in the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations. Pfister’s tenure was short-lived and marred by controversy, including a player strike over pay. Togo eventually reappointed Keshi in February 2007, just in time for a friendly match against Cameroon.
Keshi’s next managerial role was with the Mali national team, which he joined in April 2008 on a two-year contract. Unfortunately, his tenure was cut short when he was sacked in January 2010, following Mali’s early exit from the group stages of the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations.
Stephen Keshi: Success as coach of the Super Eagles
Stephen Keshi took the reins as Nigeria’s national team coach in 2011. He led the Super Eagles to qualification for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, which they won by defeating Burkina Faso 1-0 in the final.
Keshi’s team then participated in the 2013 Confederations Cup, where they defeated Tahiti 6-1, but lost to Uruguay and Spain. Later that year, Nigeria secured qualification to the 2014 World Cup by beating Ethiopia 4-1 on aggregate in a play-off.
Keshi made history by becoming the first African coach to qualify two African nations (Nigeria and Togo) for the World Cup Finals. He also helped Nigeria win the African Cup of Nations trophy and World Cup qualification in 2013, echoing their achievements in 1994.
Nigeria progressed to the knockout stage of the 2014 World Cup, but lost to France in the first round. After the match, Keshi announced his resignation, only to reverse his decision later.
However, his team’s failure to win a single game in the Morocco 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifying series led to increased pressure.
In July 2014, following Nigeria’s exit from the World Cup, Keshi’s contract with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) expired and was not renewed.
The NFF Executive Committee cited a lack of commitment to achieve the Federation’s objectives as the reason for their decision.
Stephen Keshi: Wife & Children
Stephen Keshi was born in Azare, Bauchi State, but his parents hailed from Illah in Delta State and were from the Igbo tribe of Nigeria.
Keshi’s educational journey began at Saint Paul’s Catholic Nursery and Primary School in Lagos State, followed by Saint Finbarrs’ College, Akoka, Lagos in 1976.
Stephen Keshi enjoyed a loving marriage to Kate Aburime for 30 years, until cancer claimed her life on December 10, 2015, after a three-year battle. He and Kate had four children together, including their oldest son Kos Keshi, who followed in his father’s footsteps as a professional footballer.
Stephen Keshi tragically died from a heart attack on June 7, 2016, in Benin City, at the age of 54.
Career Achievements
