How Shuaibu Amodu Died!

Coach Shuaibu Amodu

BARELY four days after former Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi died in Benin, another coach, Shaibu Amodu, has also died in Benin, the Edo State capital.

According to Edo State Commis­sioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Kassim Afegbua, Amodu, 58, was found dead in his room yesterday morning in his house located at Delta Crescent, GRA, Benin.



Speaking to journalists at Stella Obasanjo Hospital, where the body of Amodu was taken to, Afegbua, a cousin of the late coach, said they were to­gether on Friday before the unexpected happened yesterday morning.

“We were together yesterday. He came to my house in the morning and we were discussing Keshi. He told me he would be travelling to Okpella this morning (Saturday.) Later in the day, he was at the Police station to see one of the family members who was arrested.

“Later in the night, he only com­plained of chest pain, and we called a doctor to check his blood pressure and it was 140 over 100. He was advised to take his drugs and also stop participa­tion in the Ramadan fasting.

“He later led the Tarawih (Muslim fasting prayer) for the family. And after the prayer, he went to bed after eating.

“He was discovered dead in his room at about 4: 00am this morning when they went to wake him up for the (Suhur) morning prayer”, Afegbua said.

The body of Shuaibu Amodu was later taken to Okpella, his hometown, for Muslim burial yesterday.

Commenting on his sudden death yesterday the Stella Obasanjo hospital where he spoke to journalists, former coach of the national female team, Godwin Izilien, described it “as double tragedy”.

“If you see me shedding tears, it is because Shaibu Amodu is dead. I was trying to reach him several times yesterday but his line was not available, which was unusual. But I eventually got him in the evening and he told me he was at the Police station, that he went to see some of his relations who went to bail one of their family mem­bers.

“I eventually went to meet him at the Police station where I told him I’ve brought the driver he requested and he said we should meet by 10 this morning to interview him. And this is the meet­ing,” Izilien said, and burst into tears.

He said Amodu’s death coming less than four days after the death of Ste­phen Keshi, was a double tragedy for the nation