Emmanuel Ebiede, a former Nigerian junior international, passed away at the age of 45 after a protracted illness.
Ebiede had been battling hepatomegaly (liver enlargement) and despite the efforts of Chris Green, the sports commissioner for the state of Rivers, he perished on Friday.
China Acheru, a prominent Nigerian journalist based in Port Harcourt, where Ebiede was being treated, confirmed the tragic news.
“Good bye Emmanuel Ebiede. Your voyage on Earth has concluded,” Acheru wrote on Twitter.
Former Presidential Candidate for the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) elections in 2022, David Doherty, also relayed the sad news.
“Unfortunately, Emmanuel Ebiede has passed away,” Doherty, who initiated a fundraising campaign for Ebiede, tweeted.
The Rivers State Sports Commissioner, Green, acted swiftly in response to Ebiede’s health issues.
Green stated that his Ministry would be responsible for the eventual recovery and rehabilitation of the former Super Eagles midfielder, whose condition had reportedly improved.
Green spearheaded the rehabilitation of former Rivers State and Nigeria national team (basketball) point guard Miebaka Clinton, who suffered a stroke recently.
Ebiede represented Belgium (Eendracht Aalst) and the Netherlands (SC Heerenveen) professionally and earned three senior-level caps for Nigeria.