July 27, (THEWILL) – The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has paid tribute to former football club owners, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who both died this week.
Iwuanyanwu, who owned Iwuanyanwu Nationale (formerly Spartans FC), passed away on July 25 at the age of 82, while Ubah, owner of Ifeanyi Ubah FC (previously Gabros International), died in London on July 27 at 52.
NFF President, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, expressed sadness at the deaths, praising both men for their investments in Nigerian football and contributions to youth empowerment. Gusau highlighted Iwuanyanwu Nationale’s run to the 1988 African Champion Clubs’ Cup final and Ifeanyi Ubah FC’s participation in the 2017 CAF Confederation Cup.
Iwuanyanwu Nationale, renamed from Spartans FC in 1981, reached the final of the African Champion Clubs’ Cup in 1988, losing 4-1 on aggregate to Algeria’s Entente Setif. Ifeanyi Ubah FC, which Ubah acquired from Gabros International, competed in the CAF Confederation Cup in 2017, exiting after a penalty shootout loss to Egypt’s Al Masry.
Gusau noted that Ubah had informed him about travelling to London two weeks ago, not realising it would be their final communication. The NFF President stated that both deceased club owners would be missed by the Nigerian football community.
The NFF chief offered prayers for the eternal rest of Iwuanyanwu and Ubah while expressing condolences to their families during this difficult time.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
