Mabo was the head coach of the Nigeria women’s national team at the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup, 2000 Summer Olympics and 2004 Summer Olympics.
By Emma Ogbuehi
Former coach of the Nigerian female football team, the Super Falcons, Ismaila Muhammad Abubakar, is dead.
Mabo died on Monday, aged 80 years.
President Muhammadu Buhari who described Mabo as a legendary footballer in the domestic league extended his condolences to the bereaved family.
A statement by Mallam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, said Buhari joins the family “in mourning the loss of their husband and father, popularly known as Ismaila Mabo Nakande, who was a seasoned football manager, credited to have worked with and managed some of the best talented female players in Nigeria’s football history.”
“Mabo was also a legendary footballer in the domestic league, making his mark as a player and captain of Mighty Jets of Jos and also representing the country as a formidable central defender with the Green Eagles,” the statement further said.
“As the head coach of the Nigeria women’s national team at the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup, 2000 Summer Olympics and 2004 Summer Olympics, the President believes that Mabo’s legacy will live on in the players and the coaches that came in contact with him during his career, as well as the young athletes that will draw inspiration from his managerial abilities in the years to come.
“The President prays that the memory of the departed will be a blessing to those who mourn.”
Mabo’s brother, Mansir Salihu-Nakande, announced his death on his Facebook page, saying the former soccer manager died on Monday morning.
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“The family of Alh Salihu Nakande announces the passing of our brother Coach Ismaila Muhammad Abubakar (alias Ismaila Mabo Nakande) in the early hours of Monday 13th March, 2023 at the age of 80 years. May his gentle soul rest in peace, Ameen,” he said.
He added that the funeral prayer would hold latter today.
Mabo was the head coach of the Nigeria women’s national team at the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup, 2000 Summer Olympics and 2004 Summer Olympics.
He led Nigeria to the quarter-finals of the World Cup, the team’s best ever outing.
