TRAGEDY: Former Eagles’ Player Dies In Lagos

Former Nigeria’s football player, Albert Onyeawuna has been reported dead at aged 78 years. According to family sources, the late Onyeawuna, who was renowned for his dribbling skills during the 1950s and 1960s, died on Monday at a clinic in Lagos. He was reported to have been sick for several months before he passed on late last night. * NFF president, Ibrahim Maigari mourns the death of the late Albert Onyeawuna The late Onyeawuna debuted for Nigeria’s national team then called the Red Devils on October 30, 1955 and played his last game for the country on March 26 1964. He scored seven goals in 26 games. He was the star of the Port Harcourt team in the 1950s and scored twice as they beat Kano 4-1 in the 1955 Challenge Cup. He also shone as his team won the Challenge Cup beating Federal United 6-1 in 1958. Onyeawuna played in Nigeria’s first ever African Cup of Nations in Ghana in 1963. Some of his contemporaries include the likes of Sam Ibiam, Dan Anyiam, Asuquo Ekpe, Godwin Achebe, Dejo Fayemi, Patrick Noquaqor, Paul Hamilton, Fabian Duru, Teslim Balogun and Elkana Onyeali. Onyeawuna retired from the game and invested very well but at his old age, he had serious challenges with his sight. Payments for eye surgeries from an auto accident practically wiped out all his investments. The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, on Tuesday expressed sorrow over his death. The football body also mourn the passing of Kaduna United FC Head Coach Saleh Lato and five players of Nigeria Nationwide League side Bakoji FC of Kaduna, who died in a car accident during the festive period.