Former Super Eagles Midfielder, Emmanuel Ebiede Dies

Emmanuel Ebiede, a former Super Eagles midfielder, is dead.

Ebiede died on Friday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, following a battle with Hepatomegaly (enlargement of the liver).

The 47-year-old died at about 4pm at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, leaving behind a wife and three children – two in Nigeria and one in Holland.

His demise was confirmed by former Nigeria Football Federal presidential aspirant, David Doherty following the launch of a crowdfunding account for donors to assist the ailing Ebiede until his death.

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Doherty said;

“I just spoke with the daughter who confirmed to me that Emmanuel is dead,” Doherty told The PUNCH.

“I’m very sad as we speak. This was someone whom I spoke with two days ago to know how he was faring.

Ebiede was capped twice for the Super Eagles. He made his debut under Serbian coach Bora Milutinovic in a 1-0 win over Iran in a pre-1998 World Cup friendly match on January 28, 1998

He wore the jerseys of Sharks of Port Harcourt, Belgian First Division side, SC Eendracht Aalst, SC Heerenveen in the Dutch Eredivisie, before further spells in the United Arab Emirates (1999-2004) and Israel (2006-2008).

The midfielder later returned home to feature for Bayelsa United and Sharks for a second stint before retiring in 2011.

Ebiede was also a member of the Flying Eagles squad at the 1995 African Youth Championship on home soil.