The Nigerian football community mourns Charles Bassey, 1980 AFCON hero, who passed away aged 71 after a long illness in Eket

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Nigerian football fraternity is in mourning following the death of Charles Bassey, one of the legendary players who secured Nigeria’s first Africa Cup of Nations title in 1980.

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Bassey passed away on Saturday at the age of 71 after a prolonged illness in his hometown of Eket, Akwa Ibom State.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed his passing in a statement issued on Monday by its General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi.

The news came just hours after the football world was rocked by the death of Christian Chukwu, the captain of the 1980 Green Eagles squad, who died in Enugu.

“This has been a day of double tragedy, and the NFF and the entire Nigerian football fraternity are deeply saddened by the turn of events.

We lost ‘Chairman’ Chukwu earlier in the day; now, we have to mourn Charles Bassey. May God Almighty grant their souls eternal rest,” said Dr Sanusi.

Charles Bassey was part of the historic 22-man squad that brought glory to Nigeria on 22 March 1980. The Green Eagles triumphed 3-0 against Algeria at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, securing the nation’s first-ever AFCON title under the management of Brazilian coach Otto Gloria.

After his retirement from playing, Bassey remained deeply involved in Nigerian football as a coach. He managed several notable clubs, including Calabar Rovers, Mobil Pegasus (his hometown team), BCC Lions of Gboko, Flash Flamingoes of Benin, Akwa United, and Wikki Tourists of Bauchi.

His death marks yet another loss from the legendary 1980 team. Bassey is the ninth player from that historic squad to have passed away.

Others include goalkeepers Best Ogedegbe and Moses Effiong; defenders Christian Chukwu, Okechukwu Isima, and Tunde Bamidele; midfielders Aloysius Atuegbu and Mudashiru Lawal; and fellow forward Martins Eyo.

As Nigeria continues to celebrate the legacy of its football heroes, the passing of Charles Bassey is a poignant reminder of the contributions made by that golden generation.