Pinnick: NFF about to help ill Sofoluwe before his death

THE President of the Nigeria Football Federation Amaju Pinnick has claimed that the body was planning to provide aid for Yisa Sofoluwe before the former defender died.

The former Nigeria full-back battled with cerebral atrophy, a debilitating brain disease, before passing away at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital on Tuesday night.

In a statement on its website on Wednesday, the NFF said the body was shocked and in sorrow over the untimely death of the 53-year-old.

Pinnick said the process had been activated for Sofoluwe’s medical operation just before his death.

“It is another sad, sad day. Just a couple of weeks ago, we were lamenting the loss of former goalkeeper and coach Joseph Erico,” Pinnick said.

“Now, Yisa Sofoluwe. That man was a gem in the green-and-white and did his very best for Nigeria whenever he was on the field. “Personally, I have sweet memories of Yisa Sofoluwe.

“It is more painful that he left just when help was coming to him from everywhere and the process was on to rectify his medical condition. We loved him but God loves him more. May his soul rest in peace.”

Unusuallly skillful and graceful for a defender, Sofoluwe played at the 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship (now FIFA U-20 World Cup) in Mexico for the Flying Eagles, the first Nigerian team to feature at a FIFA-organised championship.

The following year, he was a key member of the Green Eagles squad that finished as runners-up in Cote d’Ivoire, winning Nigeria’s first silver medal at the Africa Cup of Nations.

He was also a regular in the team that repeated the feat in Morocco four years later. 

He won 40 caps for the Nigerian senior team and scored one goal.

He played club football for ITT FC, Abiola Babes FC (where he achieved FA Cup success), Shooting Stars FC and Gateway FC. 

“We are devastated to hear of the passing away of former Green Eagles Defender Yisa Sofoluwe after a brief illness on Tuesday. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and football community in Nigeria. May his soul Rest In Peace,” the NFF tweeted.