By David Awopetu
A member of the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation, Emmanuel Ibah, has died of COVID-19 aged 62.
The NFF announced Ibah’s passing with a press release on Tuesday.
Family sources confirmed to the NFF that Ibah, who was also Chairman of the Akwa Ibom Football Association, gave up the ghost on Tuesday morning after succumbing to complications from Covid-19. He was said to have underlying diabetic and hypertensive medical conditions.
Ibah, an energetic figure who showed intense dedication and commitment to the work of the NFF and Nigeria Football in general, was always at the forefront of preparations for matches of the Senior Men National Team, Super Eagles, any time the Eagles were playing in the Akwa Ibom State capital, Uyo.
The Godswill Akpabio Stadium, known as Nest of Champions, served as home for the Super Eagles during their successful qualifying campaigns for the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals and the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
The president of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, described the latest death as one too many.
He said: “I am just lost for words. I don’t know what to say. This has been a tragic year on so many fronts. Emmanuel Ibah was like a brother. He was my colleague from the South-South on the NFF Executive Committee and a very loyal and supportive person. We have lost another pillar on the Board. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.”
Ibah became the third member of the NFF Executive Committee and the fourth key figure in the NFF to pass away this year. A member from the South East, Chidi Ofo Okenwa, died on 5 May and Musa Adamu Duhu passed away on 19 September. NFF’s Head of ICT, Tolulope Abe, died on 29 August.
Born on 5 September, 1959, Ibah hailed from Urua Akpan area of Akwa Ibom State, and became a member of the NFF Executive Committee after winning election at the last NFF Elective Congress in Katsina on 18th September 2018.
