Former Super Eagles captain and coach Stephen Keshi will be inducted into the Sports Diplomacy Wall of Fame of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in recognition of his contributions to Nigerian football and sports diplomacy.
The induction was announced by former Super Eagles captain Segun Odegbami during a memorial lecture held in Keshi’s honour in Lagos.
The NIIA Sports Diplomacy Wall of Fame was established to recognise Nigerians who have contributed to the country’s international relations and diplomatic objectives through sports.
Keshi’s name will be added to the monument at a ceremony scheduled for July 28, one day before the 10th anniversary of his burial.
The event will also mark three years since the monument was unveiled at the NIIA headquarters in Lagos.
Speaking on the honour, Mr Odegbami said Keshi had been approved for inclusion on the Wall of Fame following an assessment of his contributions to Nigeria.
“The existing list will now be extended to include the name of former Nigerian Green Eagles captain and national team coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi. He has been considered worthy, and his contributions identified, justified and approved by the NIIA,” he said.
Odegbami noted that Keshi made contributions both as a player and coach and also helped many Nigerian and African footballers move into professional football in Europe.
“Stephen Keshi played and captained the Nigerian national football team. He also coached and managed the national team of Nigeria to an African Cup victory, qualified and took another African national team, Togo, to the FIFA World Cup, personally opened the way and assisted a whole generation of Nigerian and other African football players in the transition to professional ranks in Europe,” he added.
Keshi captained Nigeria to victory at the Africa Cup of Nations in 1994 and later led the Super Eagles to another continental title as coach in 2013.
He also guided Nigeria to the 2014 FIFA World Cup and qualified Togo for its first FIFA World Cup appearance in 2006.
Stephen Keshi died on June 7, 2016, in Benin City at the age of 54 and was buried in Illah. He was named CAF Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2013.
