BEVERLY HILLS, December 16, (THEWILL) – The National Coordinator for the South-South zone of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and a member of the NFF’s Executive Committee, Mr. Emmanuel Ibah, is dead. Ibah, who was also Chairman of the Akwa Ibom Football Association, gave up the ghost on Tuesday morning.
Confirmation of his passing reached the Federation through family sources who revealed that he died after succumbing to complications from the novel coronavirus as he suffered underlying diabetic and hypertensive medical conditions.
Amaju Melvin Pinnick, the NFF President was sombre in his reaction: “I am just lost for words. I don’t know what to say. This has been a tragic year on so many fronts. Emmanuel Ibah was like a brother. He was my colleague from the South South on the NFF Executive Committee and a very loyal and supportive person. We have lost another pillar on the Board. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.”
The tragic loss of Ibah is the third demise of a member of the NFF Executive Committee and the fourth of a key figure in the NFF this year. The first was a member from the South East, Chidi Ofo Okenwa who died on May 5 and then, Musa Adamu Duhu who passed on on September 19 2020. They were followed by the NFF’s Head of ICT, Tolulope Abe who died on the 29th of August, this year.
Always full of life and bubbling with energy, Ibah displayed uncommon dedication and commitment to the work of the NFF in particular and Nigeria Football in general. The astute organiser was always at the forefront of preparations for matches of the senior men’s national team, the Super Eagles, whenever football brought them to the Akwa Ibom State capital, Uyo.
When the Super Eagles ran their successful qualifying campaigns for the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals and the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations series of games, The Godswill Akpabio Stadium, popularly called the “Nest of Champions”, served as their base and Ibah made sure they lacked for nothing.
Ibah, from Urua Akpan area of Akwa Ibom State was born on the 5th September, 1959, and became a Member of the NFF Executive Committee after winning during the elections conducted at the last NFF Elective Congress in Katsina on September 18, 2018. He lost his wife a couple of years ago. He was 61 years old.
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