Breaking: Former Green Eagles Player, Charles Bassey, Dies After Prolonged Illness

Breaking: Former Green Eagles Player, Charles Bassey, Dies After Prolonged Illness

Charles Bassey, a former member of Nigeria’s Green Eagles, has passed away following a prolonged battle with illness. The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) confirmed his death in a statement issued on Sunday.

Bassey, who was part of the Nigerian team that won the nation’s first Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in 1980, died on Saturday in his hometown of Eket, Akwa Ibom State. His passing comes just hours after the death of another football legend, Christian Chukwu, who both captained and coached the Eagles….READ MORE….

Bassey’s health had been deteriorating for several years. In 2019, he revealed that he had been suffering from “nerve root compression” in his spinal cord, a condition resulting from a car accident in 1986. He had disclosed that over time, his condition worsened, significantly affecting his ability to walk. During this period, Bassey appealed publicly for financial support to cover his medical expenses.

In 2021, Bassey shared that the Femi Otedola Foundation had funded his spinal cord surgery, which provided some relief, although his health challenges continued.

In addition to his football career, Bassey also pursued a role in football management, coaching several clubs in Nigeria’s football league, including Calabar Rovers, Wikki Tourists of Bauchi, BCC Lions of Gboko, Flash Flamingos, Mobil Pegasus of Eket, and Akwa United FC.

Bassey’s death is a significant loss for the 1980 AFCON squad, making him the ninth member of the historic team to pass away. Other team members who have also passed include Best Ogedegbe, Moses Effiong, Christian Chukwu, Okechukwu Isima, Tunde Bamidele, Aloysius Atugbu, Mudashiru Lawal, and Martins Eyo.