The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is mourning the loss of former Super Falcons and U-17 national team coach, Godwin Izilein, and respected football journalist, Kayode Tijani. NFF’s Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, conveyed the organization’s grief and shock at the passing of these influential figures.
“We were in preparation for our match against South Africa in the AFCON semi-finals when we heard the news of Coach Izilein’s passing. And just as we were celebrating victory, we were once again hit with the sad news of Kayode Tijani’s death. We are in mourning, but we take solace in the indelible marks both men have left in Nigerian football,” NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, expressed.
Coach Izilein’s achievements include leading the Super Falcons to victory in the Women Africa Cup of Nations in 2004. He had also represented Nigeria at the senior level, leaving an enduring legacy in Nigerian football. Meanwhile, Kayode Tijani was known as an esteemed international journalist who dedicatedly maintained football records.
Izilein passed away at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, while Tijani breathed his last at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital. Tijani was buried in Lagos in accordance with Islamic rites. Throughout his career, Tijani contributed to various local and international publications, including FAME magazine, Complete Football magazine, and the pan-African football magazine African Soccer. Notably, in 1995, he co-founded Nigeria’s first-ever all-sport daily sports publication, Sportlight.
