Sad Day in Football as Top Nigerian Coach Who Produced Mikel Obi, Osaze Dies after Illness
- Former Nigerian Football Federation technical director Laloko is dead
- The 76-year-old former coach was said to have died in a hospital in Abeokuta
- Laloko founded the Pepsi Academy that produced the likes of Mikel and Osaze
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Nigerian football fraternities have been thrown into deep mourning following the death of former Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) technical director Kashimawo Laloko.
Laloko who was one of the biggest football administrators in Nigeria was reported to have died on Sunday, March 28, at Sacred Hearts Catholic Hospital, Abeokuta.
According to the report on Premium Times, he will be buried in his Abeokuta house on Monday afternoon, March 29, and top Nigerian Football stakeholders are expected to attend the burial.
This latest development will be a heartbreaking one for the Nigerian Football chiefs and the Super Eagles who are currently in Lagos preparing for their game against Lesotho.
Laloko, 76, was not only a football administrator, but the deceased was also a coach as he formed the Pepsi Football Academy that produced many players who have played for the Super Eagles.
The likes of Mikel Obi, Osaze Odemwingie, Soga Sambo, Elderson Echejile, Joseph Akpala, Yinka Adedeji graduated from the Pepsi Academy before going to the zenith of their careers.
Pepsi Academy helped former Super Eagles captain Mikel to be spotted from where he moved to the national team and then Europe.
Mikel won many titles at Premier League giants Chelsea and he remains one of the best African stars to have played in the English topflight.
Source: Getty Images
Earlier, Legit.ng had reported how a throw-back photo has continued to make the rounds on social media showing new Super Eagles invitee Anayo Iwuala struggling to take a picture with Kelechi Iheanacho.
The Enyimba of Aba striker was called into the national team by coach Gernot Rohr, as a replacement for Almeria forward Sadiq Umar who could not make a trip back home.
Umar who has been impressive for the Spanish side was not released by his club due to Covid-19 protocols.
His scintillating form earned him his first call-up to the senior national team, having previously starred for the West African’s U23 side.
It was gathered that the photo was taken in 2019, and now Anayo is now Iheanacho’s team-mate ahead of the AFCON 2022 qualifiers against Lesotho.
Source: Legit.ng
