TheCable

The final journey home for Stephen Keshi, former coach of the Super Eagles who died on June 8, has begun.

First for “the Big Boss”, as he was fondly called, was a church service at St Paul Catholic Church, Benin City, which began at 9am.

After that, he was moved to the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, where a novelty match was played in his honour, followed by the lying in state for his numerous admirers to pay their last respect.

The two-day event continued with movement of the body to Asaba, the Delta state capital, where his body is currently lying in state at the stadium named after him by Emmanuel Uduaghan, former governor of the state.

From Asaba, the body will leave for Illah, his homestead, to be received by the Obi Gbemudu, the Obi of Illah, along with his high chiefs. Keshi himself was a high chief of the Illah kingdom

After that the body moves to St’ John, The Evangelist Catholic Church for a requiem mass; and then to his home in Illah, where the body will again lie in state for an hour before internment at the same venue.

From the first-day events, below are photos:

Keshi’s body draped in the Nigerian flag

The ambulance with the pall bearers awaiting the arrival of Ifeanyi Okowa, governor of Delta state, at the Stephen Keshi Stadium

Keshi’s children (in blue attires) line up in wait for their father’s body

The coffin

Pallbearers bringing in Keshi’s remains into the church in Benin

Amaju Pinnick, president of NFF, in court

Keshi’s first son takes a Bible reading in church

L-R: Stephen Femi Keshi, Jennifer Keshi, Emma Enyihor (Ifeyinwa’s husband) and Ifeyinwa Enyihor (daughter)

Alex Usifo, renowned actor, in church

Keshi’s body in church

Keshi inside his own stadium