Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi is expected to lead his team-mates in playing a part during the funeral of late Stephen Keshi in addition to the interest shown by several state governments to be part of the burial according to family sources.
The nation’s capital, Abuja, will be the first port of call for the burial with the Mikel-led Super Eagles players expected to be involved in proceedings. In the same vein, reports have also emerged that the former Super Eagles captain and coach Keshi would be buried in his ancestral home of Illah in Delta State with the Federal Government and Governments of States like Edo, Delta and Cross River States already shown interest to be part of the burial ceremony with more expected to follow.
Stephen Keshi’s children will also start arriving from the United States this week as preparations for his burial gathers momentum. Meanwhile, Keshi’s close friends have called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to clear the match bonuses and allowances he was owed before his death as the former Mali and Togo coach was still owed for the 2015 AFCON qualifying games against Sudan, which was won in Abuja and the drawn game with the Bafana Bafana of South Africa along with his officials.
Speaking on the matter, an ex-player, who wanted to remain anonymous said: “Let them demonstrate their sudden love for him by paying to his family what it was they owed to kick-start preparations for his burial.”