Super Falcons coach, Florence Omagbemi, loses son

Super Falcons coach Florence Omagbemi

Super Falcons head coach, Florence Omagbemi, is bereaved following the demise of her son, Samson, on Wednesday.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed the loss via its official Twitter handle on Thursday morning.

Though the circumstances leading to the death is yet to be known, the Nigerian football community is still in disbelief over the tragedy.

Samson is her son from a previous relationship before she got married to a husband who later died in 2009 after a brief illness while she was away in the United States.

The Delta State-born 42-year-old coach also lost his dad, a retired civil servant, in December.

She travelled to Warri for the funeral just after returning from Cameroon where she led the Super Falcons to win the 2016 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON).

Omagbemi is one of few Africans who have had successes both on the pitch and the dugout.

As a player, she was one of the pioneer Falcons, representing the country between 1991 and 2004.

She captained the team to four Africa Women’s Cup of Nations while featuring at two World Cups and the 2000 Summer Olympics.

As a manager, she led the country to their record 10th continental championship.

She thus joined an elite company of Africans to have achieved such as player and coach, which include another Nigerian, Stephen Keshi.

The NFF will be hoping the 42-year-old gets over the shock quickly before the next Africa Women’s Cup of Nations qualifier begins.