Former Green Eagles goalkeeper Peter Fregene has passed away.
The news of his death was confirmed on Sunday by ex-international and close friend Segun Odegbami. According to Odegbami, the Nigerian football legend died after a prolonged illness, with his wife Tina and two of his children by his side.
“Just a few minutes ago, Peter ‘Apo’ Fregene, OLY, former goalkeeper for Nigeria’s Green Eagles, who had been on life support for the past week, passed on to meet his creator.
He passed peacefully in the presence of two of his children and his devoted wife, Tina,” Odegbami wrote on Sunday.
Fregene, who represented Nigeria at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico and was a prominent figure in the national team throughout the 1960s and 70s, was celebrated for his remarkable reflexes and resilience as a goalkeeper, earning him the nickname ‘Apo,’ a testament to his agility.
Odegbami also expressed gratitude to those who supported the football icon during his illness.
“On behalf of all generations of Nigerian footballers, Olympians, sportspeople, his family, friends, fans, and the incredible Nigerians who quietly rallied around with their support, prayers, and the will of the creator, I say a big ‘thank you,’” Odegbami stated.