The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has unveiled a three day burial programme for late Super Eagles gaffer, Stephen Keshi.
The football body made the decision after meeting with the family of the deceased tactician in Abuja on Tuesday.
In attendance was Chairman, Edo State Football Association, Frank Ilaboyah, who led the family delegation to the meeting with Sports Minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung, representing the Federal Government.
Also at the meeting were NFF President, Amaju Pinnick; it’s General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, and the three children of the late coach, led by the eldest, Jennifer.
The NFF had earlier disclosed that the Federal Government was planning a burial committee for the fallen former Super Eagles boss, which would be headed by the Sports Minister, with representatives of the federation, Keshi’s family, Edo and Delta football associations as well as ex-internationals.
It was revealed at the meeting that the burial plans for the former Mali and Togo boss, who died of suspected cardiac arrest will take place from July 27-29.
According to the programme, Keshi would be laid in state in Abuja on Wednesday, July 27, while another round of lying-in-state ceremony will be held in Benin City, Edo State, the next day.
The burial proper will then take place on Friday, July 29, in his ancestral home of Ilah, Delta State.
This revelation buries the earlier controversies surrounding where the former Eagles skipper will be laid to rest. While his kinsmen wanted their son to be buried in Ilah, his in-laws, on the other hand, had allegedly proposed that he be buried in Benin City, his adopted hometown.
“We believe that an issue of this nature needs no further elaboration as it is customary in Nigeria that most persons, particularly high profile personalities are buried in their hometown,” Keshi’s family told The Sun.
“To do otherwise, may portend some consequences in future going by the Illah culture and tradition.”
