TheCable

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has commiserated with the South African Football Association (SAFA) over the tragic death of goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa.

Meyiwa, the Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates captain, was murdered on Sunday night at the house of his girlfriend and mother of his child, in Vosloorus, south of Johannesburg.

In a letter signed by general secretary, Musa Amadu, the NFF mourned with SAFA over the tragic death of the 27-year-old.

“The Nigeria Football Federation and the entire Nigeria football family are in deep mourning over the killing of the 27-year-old Orlando Pirates’ and Bafana Bafana number one goalkeeper and captain, who still had his life ahead of him. The snuffing-out of the life of one of the glowing stars of South African football is as tragic as it is unfortunate.

“We note that he was murdered by gunmen in the apartment of the mother of his child, and it is our hope and prayer that the security agencies will bring the perpetrators of the terrible act to justice in quick time.

“Senzo Meyiwa’s killing has come at a time that the Bafana Bafana are in good standing to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations finals and at a time that South African football at senior level is looking to be on true revival path. This makes his tragic departure much more painful.”

Meyiwa kept clean sheets in all four Bafana Bafana’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, helping South Africa to maintain their place on the top of Group A, which also has Nigeria, Sudan and Congo.