Emmanuel Emenike has said Stephen Keshi, who passed away early Wednesday following a suspected heart attack, was the only man who believed in him.
Emenike was top scorer when Nigeria won a third AFCON three years ago with Keshi in charge of the team.
“True Legend, the only man that believed in me, the only man that made me in super Eagles, the only man that has never stopped believing in me, the only man that surprised me on the day I needed him most in my dad’s burial, the only man that has never stopped advising me when he calls me,” an emotional Emenike said on his Facebook page.
“You will forever stay in my heart the big boss RIP.”
Keshi kept faith with the Fenerbahce striker even when most Nigerians doubted him and he went on prove the coach right by emerging top scorer at AFCON 2013 with four goals.
Former FCT FA chairman Emmanuel Attah said Nigeria have suffered a great loss.
“I am still in shock because this is a great, great loss to Nigeria as a whole,” said Attah, who worked with Keshi when Nigeria won the 2013 AFCON in South Africa.
“He loved Nigeria and he gave everything for our national team to succeed.
“He was a father figure to both officials and players and that was why we won the Nations Cup 19 years after our last triumph.”