Emmanuel Ibah Dies of Coronavirus
The Nigeria Football Federation is currently mourning Emmanuel Ibah who is a member of the executive committee and co-ordinator for the south-south zone of the body.
Emmanuel Ibah died at the age of 61, and it was gathered that he died of coronavirus. The Nigeria Federation announced the sudden news of his death via a statement saying family sources confirmed that the chairman of the Akwa Ibom Football Association gave up the ghost today Tuesday 15th of December.
It was also gathered that Emmanuel Ibah died of coronavirus. He is the first sportsman to died of the virus in Nigeria. In the statement, the Nigeria football federation said late Emmanuel Ibah was a technocrat and an energetic figure who showed intense dedication and commitment to the work of the NFF and Nigeria Football.
The statement also said: “In general, (Ibah) was always at the forefront of preparations for matches of the senior men national team, Super Eagles, any time the Eagles were playing in the Akwa Ibom State capital, Uyo.”
NFF president Amaju Pinnick said: “I am just lost for words. I don’t know what to say. This has been a tragic year on so many fronts. Emmanuel Ibah was like a brother.”
He also said: “He was my colleague from the south south on the NFF Executive Committee and a very loyal and supportive person. We have lost another pillar on the Board. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.”
The year 2020 remains a devastating one for the NFF as a body as the number of deaths record in 2020 alone is alarming. The Nigerian football house had earlier lost Chidi Ofo Okenwa who died on May 5; NFF’s head of ICT, Tolulope Abe died on August 29 and then Musa Adamu Duhu passed away on September 19.
Also they recorded deaths of players, the year will be remembered for so many things but especially the rate of death cases the body recorded.