Former Super Falcons coach Kadiri Ikhana has done his first surgery out of three hip replacement surgeries at an Abuja-based hospital, Alliance Hospital.
Ikhana’s wife, who confirmed the success of the first surgery to NationSport, revealed that he would have the second next week.
Ikhana had earlier called on well-meaning Nigerians for financial assistance, saying he can no longer bear the burden alone.
“I thought it was something I could handle by myself, I was visiting the hospital, physiotheraphy, orthopedic doctors but they couldn’t help.
“Just about ten days ago, I collapsed. I couldn’t get up and I had to cry out,” The 67-year-old coach said.
Dr Christopher Otabor, Medical Director of Alliance Hospital, said Ikhana’s hip problem was much bigger than he expected, adding that the former Green Eagles midfielder spinal cord compressed.
“I discovered that the problem is much bigger than I thought initially, I thought maybe one hip replacement will surffise, I later discovered that both hips had failed.
“He was in a very advance stage of osteoarthritis of the hip joints and in addition to that, his spine has degenerated so bad the spinal cord was being compressed from the degenerative disc disease
“In addition to that his the nerves in his spinal cord has compressed from the degenerative disc disease.”
Ikhana, a member of the 1980 African Cup of Nations winning Green Eagles, also asked for better welfare packages for injured players and coaches that served Nigeria.
One of Nigeria’s most successful coaches, Ikhana guided Enyimba to winning the CAF Champions League in 2003. He has handled several clubs in Nigeria
Following the club’s exploits at the continental level, Ikhana was awarded the CAF’s Coach of the Year that same year and in 2004, he was appointed manager of the Olympic team.
In 2012 he returned to lead the Falcons to the Africa Women’s Championship where they placed fourth after losing to Cameroon in the third place match. He later resigned after the tournament.
