Former Nigerian international, Segun Odegbami, has revealed that his ex-teammate, Kadiri Ikhana, is in a “critical health condition.”
The former Green Eagles winger revealed Ikhana’s health situation in a Facebook post on Monday.
Odegbami and Ikhana were members of the Eagles squad that won Nigeria’s first Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in 1980.
Odegbami said his former teammate has been “transferred to Irrua Specialist Teaching hospital, Auchi, Edo State, for more intensive investigation and immediate blood transfusion in order to save his life”.
He added that Austin Braimoh, a former chairman of the South-South Police Service Commission, has been the one footing the “mounting bills” of Ikhana’s sickness.
“These deaths may not be totally unconnected with the consequences of ‘over flogging’ our bodies during our sports careers. Nobody knows for sure. What we do know, however, is that we shall never know unless something is done to investigate and understand the causes of these ‘early’ deaths that are seemingly on rampage this season.”
Kadiri Ikhana was a prominent figure in the Nigerian national team for over ten years and also featured at the 1980 Olympic Games. During his playing career, he represented Bendel Insurance, securing the Nigerian league title in 1979 and winning the FA Cup in both 1978 and 1980.
Widely regarded as one of the most successful coaches in Nigerian club football, Ikhana guided Enyimba to their historic CAF Champions League triumph in 2003.
In recent months, the Nigerian football community has mourned the loss of several former internationals, many of whom succumbed to health-related issues.
Notable among them are Christian Chukwu, Peter Rufai, and Charles Bassey, who all passed away after prolonged battles with illness.