Super Eagles stars today fondly remembered former coach and captain ‘Big Boss’ Stephen Keshi, who passed on three years ago.
This was at a memorial lecture in honour of the fallen star and fittingly at the Asaba stadium, which has been named after him.
Skipper Mikel Obi won the 2013 AFCON in South Africa under Keshi.
“He was a father figure to us and for me it was a great pleasure to play under him,” he saluted.
Keshi gave Leon Balogun his debut in 2014 and the Brighton defender acknowledged that fact.
“I will be forever grateful but for him I won’t be here (in the Super Eagles training camp for the Africa Cup),” he said.
Chelsea defender Kenneth Omeruo, who was also first capped by the Eagles by Keshi, paid a glowing tribute to him on Twitter and Instagram.
“Keep resting in peace daddy #stevenkeshi,” he said.
Keshi died on June 7, 2016 of a suspected cardiac arrest.
The former Anderlecht defender led Nigeria to win the 1994 AFCON in Tunisia and also qualify the country to their first-ever World Cup same year.
In 2013, he led the Eagles as coach to win the AFCON in South Africa.