Former Chairman of then Nigeria Football Association, Brigadier-General Dominic Obukadata Oneya (rtd) had died at the age of 73.
General Secretary of the NFF, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, who broke the sad news, said he was devastated beyond words because he spoke to the revered former military chieftain on Wednesday – a matter of hours earlier.
“We spoke on Wednesday because I conveyed to him information that the NFF had appointed him as match commissioner for the men’s AITEO Cup final coming up on Sunday in Benin City. He told me he would prefer to drive down to Benin from Warri on Sunday morning. He sounded healthy and full of life. May his soul rest in peace.”
Oneya served as Chairman of the Nigeria Football Association (now Nigeria Football Federation) between January 2000 and October 2002, overseeing Nigeria’s silver –medal-winning outing in 2000
Africa Cup of Nations that the country co-hosted with Ghana, a successful Korea/Japan FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, Nigeria’s bronze medal outing at the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations in Mali, and the Super Eagles’ outing at the FIFA World Cup finals in the Far East the same year.
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After leaving office as supremo of Nigeria Football, Brigadier-General Oneya served the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in various capacities, including as a Member of the highly influential Organizing Committee for the Africa Cup of Nations.
This article was most recently revised and updated 3 years ago
