Thompson Oliha, a member of the victorious Super Eagles squad to the 1994 African Nations Cup, has died.
Oliha, who was one of the coaches at the Kwara State Football Academy in Ilorin, died this morning. He was even on the bench on Saturday when Kwara Football Academy (KFA) boys played against a Malian team. He reportedly complained of malaria and was hospitalised in the state capital before he gave up the ghost.
Kwara State Chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Bunmi Adedoyin as well as Lagos State Chairman of SWAN, Fred Edoreh confirmed the tragedy.
Honourable Minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi commiserated with the family of Thompson Oliha, describing him as a very influential member of the Nigerian national team in the 90s.
“He contributed greatly to the success of that team,” the minister said in a release signed by his special adviser, Julius Ogunro.
“He was a dedicated and thoroughbred professional who always put the nation first and who was member of the golden generation of Nigerian football history.
A true patriot, he was motivated by the desire to don the Nigerian jersey than by pecuniary interests. He would be deeply be missed by the sporting community in Nigeria and the world at large. I pray that his soul rests in peace.”
