The Nigeria Football Federation and former Super Eagles players have mourned Diego Maradona who died at the age of 60 on Wednesday.
Maradona, considered one of the greatest ever players, died of a heart attack, as he was recovering at home following brain surgery earlier this month.
Renowned for inspiring Argentina to win the World Cup in 1986, he was most loved at club level for his spells with Boca Juniors in his homeland and Napoli in Italy, where he won the club’s only two Serie A titles.
Kanu Nwankwo said Maradona had paid his dues in world football, sharing pictures of their recent encounter.
@papilokanu tweeted, “KAN U believe it? Do the best you can when you can. Throwback to me and Maradona World Cup @fifaworldcup what KAN U say? The greatest the best and like him or hate him he gave all to football @legends
“R.I.P Diego Armando Maradona, your memory will live on forever.”
NFF described Maradona as an inimitable football legend.
“@TheNFF and the entire Nigeria Football family commiserate with the @afa, the people of Argentina and the football world over the death today, 25 November 2020, of inimitable football legend, Diego Armando Maradona. May his soul rest in peace.”
Sunday Oliseh, who played against Maradona in the group stage of the 1994 World Cup, says he is pained in a strange way.
Oliseh said, “Sad day not just for football but for mankind as we loose arguably the best player ever to play football. Somehow Diego’s death pains me in a strange kind of way, I can’t seem to understand right now. “May his blessed soul rest in peace.”
Adepoju who also faced Maradona in the second half at the 1994 World Cup between Nigeria and Argentina added, “Legends don’t die. They only take a rest. Rip Maradona.”
”Rest In Peace Maradona,” Victor Ikpeba, who was an unused substitute for the Eagles in the game also tweeted.
