Nigerian football legend Segun Odegbami has issued a heartfelt plea to the National Sports Commission (NSC), the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), and the Edo State Government to come to the aid of ailing former Super Eagles star and coaching great, Kadiri Ikhana, Soccernet.ng reports.
Ikhana, now 73, is currently battling for his life at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital in Auchi, Edo State, where he is undergoing urgent treatment, including blood transfusions.
Segun Odegbami, who was a key member of the Nigerian squad that lifted the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations alongside Ikhana, shared an emotional post on Facebook calling for swift intervention to prevent another national hero from passing away in distress.
“Another Eagle on death throes. I wish I did not have to do this…again,” Segun Odegbami wrote.
“But I have to, because it is frustrating. It is absolutely clear to me that most of us, retired international Nigerian athletes, need help. We are suffering, living in pain, poverty and poor health. In the past 4 months, 5 of us have died, and at relatively young ages too.”
In his post, Odegbami raised concerns about the toll elite sports may have taken on their bodies.
“These deaths may not be totally unconnected with the consequences of ‘over flogging’ our bodies during our sports careers. Nobody knows for sure. What we do know, however, is that we shall never know unless something is done to investigate and understand the causes of these ‘early’ deaths that are seemingly on rampage this season.
“We are yet to finish mourning and to bury four of the five sports heroes when frustrating news comes, two days ago, of another sports hero at death’s gates.”
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Describing Ikhana’s condition as dire, Odegbami revealed that former South-South Police Service Commission chairman, Hon. Austin Braimoh, was the one who brought the matter to his attention.
“A ‘good Samaritan’, Hon. Austin Braimoh… brought Kadiri’s situation to my attention and got me to speak with ‘Kawawa’ as I refer to Mr. Kadiri Ikhana,” Odegbami stated.
“Yesterday afternoon, Kawawa was referred to and transferred to Irrua Specialist Teaching hospital… for more intensive investigation and for immediate blood transfusion in order to save his life. Hon. Braimoh has been paying the mounting bills, so far, to keep Kadiri alive.”
Despite his weakened state, Ikhana was able to make a humble request.
“In a muffled voice when he was conscious enough and able to utter a few words, Kadiri begged me to ask Nigerians to pray for him. That’s what I am doing now.”
Ikhana’s contribution to Nigerian football spans both playing and coaching. As a player, he starred for Bendel Insurance and was part of the historic 1980 AFCON-winning squad. He also represented Nigeria at the 1980 Olympics and in FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
However, it was in coaching that he made an indelible mark. He led Enyimba to Nigeria’s first-ever CAF Champions League triumph in 2003 and was named CAF Coach of the Year in 2004. He also won the NPFL with Kano Pillars in 2008 and had stints coaching the Nigerian Olympic team and the Super Falcons.
Ikhana’s current condition comes at a time when Nigerian football is mourning several legends. Christian Chukwu died in April, followed shortly by Charles Bassey. More recently, Peter Rufai passed away on July 3 after a prolonged illness.
