The former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Wilfred Agbonivbare died at 4:00am on Tuesday morning in Spain.
The defunct New Nigeria Bank of Benin former shot stopper had been treated for cancer in the United States until he was asked to return to his Spain home about three weeks ago.
Agbonavbare played for New Nigerian Bank FC and BCC Lions OF Gboko. In 1990 he moved to Spain where he would spend the rest of his career, starting with Rayo Vallecano in Segunda División.
According to reports, his former team Rayo Vallecano showed a banner stating “Fuerza Wilfred” (Go on Wilfred) on its 24 January game.
In his second season with the Madrid outskirts team Agbonavbare appeared in all 38 league games (3,332 minutes of action, 27 goals conceded, second-best in the competition) as the club finished second and returned to La Liga after two years of absence. He continued to be first-choice in the following years, contributing with 31 matches to another top flight promotion in 1995.
Agbonavbare died on 27 January 2014. Agbonavbare’s wife also died of breast cancer three years ago after gulping all their earnings.
