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Sofoluwe: A gem in the green-and-white – NFF mourns ex-Eagle

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The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has mourned the demise of former Super Eagles defender Yisa Sofoluwe, who died at 53.

Sofoluwe passed away in a hospital on Tuesday night after he was recently diagnosed with a brain condition known as cerebral atrophy.

President of the NFF, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, said, “It is another sad, sad day. Just a couple of weeks ago, we were lamenting the loss of former goalkeeper and coach Joseph Erico. Now, Yisa Sofoluwe. That man was a gem in the green-and-white and did his very best for Nigeria whenever he was on the field. Personally, I have sweet memories of Yisa Sofoluwe.

“It is more painful that he left just when help was coming to him from everywhere and the process was on to rectify his medical condition.

“We loved him but God loves him more. May his soul rest in peace.”

Lithe, versatile, unclamorous and ever-alert, Yisa Sofoluwe first wore Nigeria’s colours during the qualifying series for the 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship (now FIFA U20 World Cup) in Mexico.

He was a key figure in that squad that became the first Nigeria team to feature at a FIFA-organised championship.

The Flying Eagles defeated the old Soviet Union, lost to Brazil and drew with The Netherlands, narrowly failing to make the knockout stage.

The same year, he won his first senior cap, in a 1984 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Morocco in Benin City, which ended scoreless.

The return leg in Rabat also ended scoreless, but Nigeria triumphed 4-3 after a penalty shootout to qualify for Cote d’Ivoire ’84.

Sofoluwe played a notable role in the Green Eagles squad that finished as runner-up in Cote d’Ivoire, winning Nigeria’s first silver medal at the

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