NIGERIA Football Federation president Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau has expressed shock and sadness at the death of the Chairman of Abia State Football Association Sir Ephraim Chukwuemeka, who passed away yesterday.
The former referee, who was the longest-serving FA Chairman in Nigeria, died yesterday morning in Umuahia, capital of Abia State.
“The NFF has received the most shocking news about the death of Sir E. C. Chukwuemeka, who has for decades been an esteemed member of the NFF Congress,” Gusau said in an NFF statement.
“I spoke with him just over a week ago when he told me that his wife had a partial stroke. I had no idea it would be the last conversation between us.
“Sir Chukwuemeka represented the vintage old guard in the NFF Congress and blessed us all with his wisdom, deep knowledge and understanding of the game of football, its rules, its management and its intricacies.
“We will all miss him dearly. Our prayer is that Almighty God should grant him eternal rest and also empower those he has left behind, including his immediate family, friends and the Nigeria football fraternity, with the fortitude to bear the big loss.”
