By Victor Kanayo
Former Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets coach, Sebastine Brodericks-Imasuen, who led the country to win the inaugural U-17 World Cup in 1985, is reportedly dead.
The late Nigerian coach was said to have been on life support for more than a year at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital.
According to reports, Brodericks-Imasuen, 85, was having treatment for an ischemic stroke that he was diagnosed of in December 2022.
Broderick-Imasuen, fondly referred to as Nigeria’s first World Cup-winning coach, passed away early Wednesday morning.
Confirmed Demise
His death was confirmed by the chairman of the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) Task Force, Harrison Jalla.
Chuka Imasuen, the son of the late coach, had last year made a passionate appeal for support when he revealed his father had a stroke and diabetes, which the family had spent millions on.
Profile Of An Outstanding Coach
Broderick-Imasuen represented Nigeria as a player at the 1968 Mexico Olympics and famously scored a winning free-kick in the 1972 Challenge Cup for Bendel Insurance.
His coaching career saw him lead the Golden Eaglets to two further World Cup appearances, reaching the final in 1987 before falling to the Soviet Union on penalties.
He also served as an assistant coach to Clemens Westerhof during Nigeria’s Super Eagles’ golden era.
