The former coach of the Flying Eagles, Musa Abdullahi, died January 25 at the age of 61 and was buried on the same day in Kogi State according to Islamic rites.
Premium Times recalls that the coach had been down with stroke since 2007, adding that before that he also handled the national U17 team, the Golden Eaglets and served at different times as Assistant Coach of the Senior National Team, Super Eagles.
The former Kogi United Manager, Suleiman Ahmed, confirmed the sad news when contacted:
“Yes, the news is true, Coach finally died this morning and he has since been buried according to Islamic rites.”
He got partially paralyzed after having suffered a stroke in 2007 and was soon relieved of his coaching duties.
It has been disclosed that Abdullahi over the years had been seeking financial support from the National Sports Commission (NSC), the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Nigerians but still failed to have enough money to cover his health bills.
Reacting to Abdullahi’s passing, the NFF President Amaju Pinnick called the news “terrible” adding:
“Coach Musa Abdullahi was known by all who came across him as a gentleman to the core, a very humble, highly dedicated and tireless professional who had real passion for the job. He was just a likeable person in every respect.
“We feel very, very sad to lose him but God loves him more and he has gone to rest. Our prayer is for Almighty God to grant him peaceful rest and also grant the family he has left behind the fortitude to bear the huge loss.”
It would be recalled that a week ago the country was struck by another death of a famous Nigerian. Nollywood actor Muna Obiekwe passed away following a long-time battle with renal related ailment.
It was provided in some reports that his death was also connected with his poor financial state as “he could not go for his regular dialysis for the past two weeks because he was broke”. Muna was said to be ashamed to ask for help. After his passing some Nigerian celebrities took to social media to criticize their colleagues over not helping Muna when he really needed it.
