Stephen Keshi, born on January 31, 1962, in Lagos, Nigeria, had a remarkable career as both a player and a coach. Here is an overview of his achievements:
Playing Career:
- Stephen Keshi was a talented football player and a Nigerian international, earning 64 caps and scoring 9 goals for the national team.
- As a central defender, he earned the nickname “Big Boss.”
- He played a crucial role in Nigeria’s national team during the 1994 World Cup, where they reached the Round of 16.
- Keshi had stints with various clubs, including Anderlecht, where he won a Belgian championship title in 1991 and two Belgian Cups in 1988 and 1989. He also played for RC Strasbourg and had spells in the United States and Malaysia.
Coaching Career:
- After retiring as a player, Keshi transitioned to coaching and joined the coaching staff of the Nigerian national team.
- He served as the coach of Togo, leading the team to an unexpected qualification for the 2006 World Cup, although he didn’t participate in the tournament.
- Keshi then took charge of the Mali national team in 2008 but was dismissed in 2010 following disappointing results at the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) in Angola.
- He had a brief second stint as the coach of Togo before being appointed as the head coach of the Nigeria national team in November 2011.
- Keshi achieved a historic milestone by guiding Nigeria to victory in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. This made him the second African to win the continental trophy both as a player and a coach, following the Egyptian Mahmoud El-Gohary.
- Known for his strong leadership and commitment to African football, Keshi made significant contributions to the sport both on and off the field.
Stephen Keshi passed away on June 7, 2016, leaving a lasting legacy in Nigerian and African football.
