Remembering Nigeria's 1994 AFCON Legends Who Passed Away
The 1994 Africa Cup of Nations triumph in Tunisia saw the emergence of celebrated Nigerian footballers, including Rashidi Yekini, Stephen Keshi, Peter Rufai, Thompson Oliha, and Uche Okafor. Rashidi Yekini, regarded as one of Nigeria's greatest strikers, scored 37 international goals and was pivotal in Nigeria's first FIFA World Cup qualification in 1994.
He died in May 2012 at the age of 48. Stephen Keshi, a commanding defender and captain, later coached the national team to AFCON victory in 2013, making him one of the few Africans to win the tournament in both roles.
He passed away in June 2016 at 54. Peter Rufai, the goalkeeper during the 1994 success, later founded a football academy and died in July 2025 at 61.
Thompson Oliha, a midfielder, died in June 2013 at 44, while Uche Okafor, a defender, passed away in January 2011 at 43. Together, these players represent a transformative era in Nigerian football.
Plus234Feed summary based on reporting from Legit.ng. Read the original report below.
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