Former Nigerian footballer found dead

Former Nigeria and Kansas City Wizards defender Uche Okafor was found dead on Thursday after committing suicide in his home.

Okafor’s body was discovered by his wife in their home in Little Elm, 30 miles northwest of Dallas, Texas. He was 43.

Okafor was part of the Nigeria team that won the African Cup of Nations in 1994.

He was an unused member of the Super Eagles squad for the 1994 World Cup in the USA, but he did make one appearance – in a 3-1 loss to Paraguay – at the 1998 finals in France.

“We are totally shocked by the news,” Nigerian Football Federation acting general secretary Musa Amadu said.

“Uche Okafor was a great player who represented his country at the highest level.”

Okafor played for the Kansas City Wizards between 1996 and 2000, making 119 regular-season appearances and featuring in seven play-off games.

His last match came in the Wizards’ MLS Cup victory over Chicago Fire.

“I’m terribly sad to hear of his passing,” former Wizards manager Ron Newman said.

“He was a big, strong guy, but he was very pleasant and I found him to be very professional. He was just an absolute gentleman.”

“I wouldn’t like to be on the wrong side of him if I was playing against him. He took no prisoners. But he was fair in everything he did; fair play and good guy. If he knocked you over, he’d pick you up and dust you down.”

Okafor had worked for ESPN for two years as an analyst specialising in African football.