Former head coach of Nigeria’s U-17 male national team, Willy Bazuaye has died after a 12-years battle with stroke in Benin on Monday.
He was aged 79.
The Edo-born tactician, who terminated his services with the Nigeria Police Force after 19 years to build a successful career in football, became a household name as part of the technical crew at the Atlanta Olympics of 1996 when he led the Nigerian gold-winning U23 team to victory.
Bazuaye, who led the Golden Eaglets to its maiden victory in China in 1985, died at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin after a strange ailment that struck him in 2003 struck left him partially paralysed.
A source in Benin confirmed that the ex-international and former Eaglets coach had passed on.
“Willy Bazuaye died this (yesterday) morning. It’s a terrible loss to the country’s football.”
Bazuaye last appeared in the spotlight when he participated in the “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” television celebrity show.
