Former Nigerian international, John Ene Okon, has passed away, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced.
According to NFF, Okon died in Calabar on Tuesday at the age of 47 after an illness.
Until his death, Ene Okon was the head coach of Calabar Rovers, where he was famed for his talent as a midfielder.
“It is an unfortunate situation. He died this morning,” Calabar Rovers team manager, Ijani Okor said.
“He was ill and we tried to ensure he got back in sound health. Despite that he did his work diligently. He completed the recruitment of players for Calabar Rovers for the new Nigeria National League (NNL) season and this happened. It is a big loss for us and his family and everyone close to him because he was a professional to the core,” he added.
The former midfielder was a member of the Nigerian squad to the 1992 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal.
Ene Okon also featured at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup with the Flying Eagles.