Former Super Eagles Star Ene John Okon Passes On

One of Nigeria’s greatest midfielders of all time, Ene John Okon, died on Tuesday morning in Calabar after a brief illness.

John Okon played for Acada FC of the University of Calabar from where he went on to play for Calabar Rovers and later the famous BBC Lions of Gboko.

He played a pivotal role for the Nigeria national U-20 team, the Flying Eagles alongside Etim Esin in midfield to help the team qualify for the 1987 World Youth Championship in Chile.

He eventually made the Fifa Under 20 World Cup roster  and played all Nigeria’s three group matches in Chile 87.

At full International level, he was part of the Super Eagles ill-fated attempt to qualify for the 1990 World Cup finals in Italy, a qualifying series that snapped the life of another midfielder, Samuel Okwaraji in 1989.

His last tournament for Nigeria was the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Senegal where he helped Nigeria win the bronze alongside Rashidi Yekini, Samson Siasia, Stephen Keshi, Finidi George, Reuben Agboola and several others.

Until his death, he was a Confederation of African Football, CAF, licensed Coach and was managed Calabar Rovers.

Ferdinand Mbum