LAGOS – The Nigeria Football Federation has said it is ‘terribly saddened’ at news of the death on Wednesday, 21st August of former Super Falcons’ attacking midfielder Ifeanyichukwu Chiejine.
Reports on Thursday morning said the attacking midfielder gave up the ghost in Lagos after a brief illness.
General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, was momentarily speechless after being informed of the passing of the former player.
“This is huge shock. We had no idea that she was sick. Ifeanyi was one of the most naturally gifted players to have featured for the Super Falcons. Her death at such a young age is a big blow.
“She gave one hundred percent of her ability and capacity each time she turned out for country. We will always remember her as a bundle of skill and energy, and as a patriotic individual who wore the green-white-green with a smile every time.”
The 36 –year old captained the first set of the Falconets that featured at the inaugural edition of the FIFA U19 Women’s World Cup in Canada in 2002. The competition would be renamed FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup six years later.
Ifeanyichukwu Stephanie Chiejine featured for the Super Falcons at three FIFA World Cup finals (USA 1999, USA 2003 and China 2007); the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games; four Women Africa Cup of Nations finals (South Africa 2000, Nigeria 2002, Nigeria 2006 and Equatorial Guinea 2008) and; at the women’s football tournament of the 9th All-Africa Games in Algiers in 2007.
Chiejine who died at the young age of 36, scored 15 goals in 61 games for Nigeria. She also represented Nigeria at the FIFA Women’s World Cup and Olympic Games among other competitions, winning the Women Africa Cup of Nations a couple of times in the process.
The late Chiejine last played for SSVSM-Kairat Almaty in the Kazakhstani Championship. She had also played for FC Indiana in USA’s W-League, KMF Kuopio and PK-35 Vantaa in Finland and Zvezda Perm in Russia.
Also speaking to DAILY INDEPENDENT, Precious Dede, a contemporary of the deceased and former goalkeeper of the Super Falcons, expressed sadness at the death, while wishing the family the fortitude to bear the loss.
“It is a sad death no doubt about it and what can we say; we cannot query God. I wish the family the fortitude to bear the loss,” she said.
The post NFF, Dede Mourn Former Falcons Star, Chiejine appeared first on Independent Newspapers Nigeria.
Source: Independent
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