IMMEMORIAL
From Adams to Zagallo, the A to Z of sports personalities lost in 2024
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
In a few moments, the year 2024 will have rolled off. Welcome 2025! Yet the outgoing year saw the end of some notable personalities in the world, especially in Nigeria.
Those key figures left lasting impacts on their sports. Here are sports legends and trailblazers the world lost in 2024.
January 3: The first Nigerian to lead a team to win global football glory, Sebastian Broderick-Imasuen, died aged 86. He led the Golden Eaglets to the milestone win of the inaugural U16 World Cup in China.
The late coach was one of the players who represented the Nigerian football team at the Mexico Olympic Games in 1968 and famously scored from a free kick to win the then Challenge Cup for Bendel Insurance in 1972.
As a coach, he was the head of a three-man crew that included Bala Shamaki and Christian Chukwu when the Nigerian team shocked the world in China in 1985.
He led the team again in 1987 to Canada and got to the final before losing through a penalty shoot-out to the then-Soviet Union.
On the third attempt in the competition, his team lost to Saudi Arabia by penalty kick in the quarterfinals.
At another time, he was the assistant to Clemens Westerhof in the Super Eagles.
He began his football career in 1956 when as a student, he featured for the Onitsha team in the Challenge Cup.
In 1962, he joined the then ECN and was part of the Challenge Cup-winning side of 1965. He was invited to the national team in 1962 but only became a regular in the build-up to the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico.
He was noted for his curving shots, especially from free-kick situations.
Popularly called ‘Sabara’, his biggest moment as a club player was when he scored the winning goal in the 3-2 victory for Bendel Insurance in the replay of the 1972 Challenge Cup with Mighty Jets of Jos at the Liberty Stadium – the first time the national cup final was held outside Lagos.
He later became a coach and handled the Midwest junior side to win the gold medal at the inaugural National Sports Festival in 1973.
January 5: Brazil’s Mário Zagallo who held the record for World Cup titles in general with four titles in total and the record for World Cup finals with six participations died, aged 92. He featured for Brazil in 1958, and 1962 and was also the manager at the 1970 edition.
Mario Zagallo, Brazil’s four-time World Cup winner
January 7: Global football icon, Franz Beckenbauer died, aged 78. He won the World Cup both as a player and coach and became one of Germany’s most beloved personalities with his easy-going charm.
Franz Beckenbauer won the World Cup both as a player and coach for Germany
February 7: Renowned Nigerian sports journalist, archivist, and analyst Kayode Tijani passed on. He reportedly died this Wednesday evening at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) after a protracted illness. He had been ill since returning from the Egypt 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
February 7: Former Super Falcons; coach, Godwin Izilein, who led the team to victory at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in 2004 died in Benin City, aged 81.
He was reported to be battling with “battling abdominal issues.”
February 11: Kenya’s marathon world record holder, Kelvin Kiptum died aged 34. He exploded onto the marathon scene in October 2023 when he ran a scintillating two hours and 35 seconds in Chicago, taking 34 seconds off fellow Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge’s previous world record.
The death of the 24-year-old, who was driving in western Kenya in February when his car rolled over, left the athletics world in shock. Kiptum was expected to be one of the track superstars of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
April 10: A former American Hall of Fame NFL football star and actor turned celebrity murder defendant, O.J. Simpson died at 76. Nicknamed “The Juice”, Simpson was one of the best and most popular American athletes of the late 1960s and 70s.
May 5: Argentina’s World Cup-winning coach of 1978, César Luis Menotti, died from anaemia. He was aged 85. He led Argentina to the first of their three World Cup titles.
July 16: A pall of darkness again fell on Nigeria’s sports sector as a sports administrator, Ekene Adams, passed on. He aged 39. He was the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Sports. Before that, he was the General Manager of the Nigerian Premier League side, Remo Stars before going into politics and winning a seat in the Federal House of Representatives representing Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, Kaduna State.
A former football player, Adams served as the general manager of Remo Stars as well as Kada City before he won a seat in the House of Representatives during the 2023 general elections. His sports background earned him the role of the reps committee chairman on sports despite being a first timer in the green chamber.
July 25: Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu who in 1984 acquired state-owned Spartans FC Owerri and renamed it Iwuanyanwu Nationale died aged 81. The club has since 2006 reverted to the Imo State Government and renamed Heartland FC.
July 27: The owner of the now defunct FC IfeanyiUbah, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, an oil mogul died aged 53. He was a federal lawmaker representing Anambra South Senatorial District.
The lawmaker died in a London hospital. He acquired the former Gabros Club and renamed it after himself as FC IfeanyiUbah. He was elected Senator in 2019 on the platform of the Young Progressive Party, YPP, and re-elected on that platform in 2023.
August 8: Former CAF president Issa Hayatou died 160 days after initial reports and a day before his 78th birthday. Sports Village Square reported that his death was initially rumoured 160 days ago on 1 March.
The Cameroonian was a long-serving president of CAF for 29 years from 1988 until his surprise ouster in 2017.
He also served as acting FIFA president from 2015 to 2016 after Sepp Blatter was suspended by world football’s governing body.
Hayatou, whose brother was the prime minister of Cameroon, was a lifelong sports administrator. He was an International Olympic Committee member from 2001-2016, after which he became an honorary member.
August 26: Nigeria’s first Olympic Games medallist, Nojim Maiyegun, died in Austria.Known to be virtually impaired for years, he has reportedly been in and out of hospital in the previous six months before his death. Maiyegun’s death came just a few days after the 60th anniversary of his feat when he won a bronze medal in boxing on 10 August 1964 at the Olympics in Tokyo.
He shared the bronze medal with Józef Grzesiak of Poland in the Light middleweight category. At the Olympics, the two losers in the semifinals are traditionally awarded the bronze medal, as there is no third-place bout. It was the first time since Helsinki 1952 that Nigeria won a medal. He thus ended Nigeria’s 12-year winless streak at the Olympics.
August 26: The long battle against terminal pancreatic cancer finally came to an end for former England manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson who passed away aged 76.
The popular Swede who was in line to manage Nigeria’s Super Eagles to the 2010 World Cup before he was upstaged by compatriot,Lars Lagerbäck passed away following a successful career in the football industry which included stints with England, Manchester City and Leicester City.
Earlier this year, he announced his imminent death, saying that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had a year to live in a “best-case scenario”.
The announcement was January this year and eight months down the line, he was no more. His football career spanned eight different countries.
He was in charge of England for 67 matches including the World Cup tie with Nigeria which ended goalless in 2002.
August 31: Ivorian soccer centre-back, Sol Bamba, (46 caps; Hibernian, Leicester City, Leeds United, Cardiff City), died from cancer at 39
September 5: Ugandan Olympic marathon runner, Rebeccaa Cheptegei, 33, died of her injuries after being set alight by her boyfriend.
October 6: The Fastest World Cup final match scorer, Johan Neeskens died, aged 73. He achieved the goal feat in the 1974 final match when he converted a penalty kick for The Netherlands against West Germany after 90 seconds of kick-off.
At the time, no West German player had even touched the ball! Neeskens was a midfielder and was considered one of the best of his generation.
October 13: The life-saving efforts for former Nigerian international goalkeeper, Peter Fregene, ended this day. He was aged 77, when he died surrounded by his wife and two of his children.
Fregene, was a member of the Nigerian team at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico.
He last played for Nigeria on 13 March 1982 when Nigeria lost 3-0 to Zambia in a Group B AFCON match in Benghazi.
For years, he had been battling with illness and spent the last week on life-support.
November 20: Nigerian sports journalist, Dapo Sotuminu a celebrated Nigerian sports journalist whose illustrious career spanned several decades died after a brief illness, leaving behind a profound legacy.
His contributions were deeply mourned by the Lagos State Government, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Family United by Sports and the Lagos State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), who recognized his instrumental role in the growth and promotion of sports journalism and development in Nigeria.
His life was marked by resilience, passion, and a commitment to excellence, making him a beacon of inspiration for the next generation of sports journalists. His impact will remain indelible in the annals of Nigerian sports journalism.
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By Kunle Solaja.
Sixty-eight years on, football, this Friday, paused again to remember the Munich Air Disaster, the catastrophe that ripped through Manchester United and stunned the sporting world on February 6, 1958.
The tragedy claimed 23 lives when Manchester United’s aircraft crashed on take-off at Munich-Riem Airport following a refuelling stop on the journey home from a European Cup tie against Red Star Belgrade.
Manchester United squad before the 1958 crash.
Among the dead were eight players from United’s celebrated Busby Babes side, alongside club officials, journalists and members of the flight crew.
Those killed included club captain Roger Byrne and the immensely gifted Duncan Edwards, widely tipped to become one of both United’s and England’s greatest-ever players. Also lost were Mark Jones, Tommy Taylor, Eddie Colman, Liam Whelan, David Pegg and Geoff Bent.
In all, the disaster took the lives of 11 members of the United travelling party, eight journalists, the co-pilot and several others connected to the flight.
Yet from the wreckage also emerged stories of survival and resilience. Manager Matt Busby, badly injured in the crash, would go on to rebuild United into European champions a decade later.
Bobby Charlton, who survived with relatively minor injuries, became the club’s record scorer for many years and a World Cup winner with England. Bill Foulkes, Harry Gregg, Albert Scanlon and Dennis Viollet also resumed distinguished careers.
For two survivors, however, the crash marked the end of their playing days.
Jackie Blanchflower was just 25 when the plane crashed on the snow-covered runway. The Northern Ireland international, younger brother of Tottenham Hotspur great Danny Blanchflower, had already won two league titles with United and made 117 appearances for the club. Renowned for his versatility, he had played in defence, midfield and even in goal during his career.
Despite early hope that he might recover, Blanchflower’s injuries — including a fractured pelvis, multiple broken limbs and severe internal damage — proved career-ending. He was forced into early retirement and later rebuilt his life away from football, eventually finding success as a businessman and popular after-dinner speaker. He died of cancer in 1998.
Johnny Berry, United’s flying right winger and the club’s original wearer of the famous number seven shirt, also survived the crash but never played again. Signed from Birmingham City in 1951, Berry made 276 appearances and scored 45 goals, helping United to the league title in his first season.
Severe head injuries sustained in Munich ended his career at the age of 31. Berry later returned to his hometown of Aldershot to run a sportswear business and became the first surviving United player from the crash to pass away, dying in 1994 at the age of 68.
Those lost and those who lived on
The victims of the crash included United secretary Walter Crickmer and coaches Bert Whalley and Tom Curry, as well as eight journalists covering the team’s European adventure. The co-pilot Kenneth Rayment, a steward, a supporter and a travel agent were also among the dead.
Of the nine United players who survived, Bobby Charlton lived the longest, passing away in October 2023 at the age of 86. Goalkeeper Harry Gregg, whose heroics in rescuing survivors earned lasting admiration, died in 2022 aged 87.
Each year, the anniversary of Munich remains deeply embedded in the identity of Manchester United, serving as a reminder not only of loss but of the resilience that shaped the club’s history. Sixty-eight years on, the names of those who died — and those whose careers and lives were forever changed — continue to be remembered as an inseparable part of football’s collective memory.
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Manchester United will this Friday, February 6, 2026, mark the 68th anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster this Friday, February 6, 2026. The darkest day in the club’s history, which claimed 23 lives, including eight players and three officials.
The tragedy occurred in 1958 as United were returning from a European Cup match against Red Star Belgrade. After stopping to refuel in Munich, the aircraft crashed shortly after take-off, devastating the club and the wider football community.
Each year, the disaster remains central to United’s identity and heritage, with thousands of supporters gathering at memorial services in Manchester and Munich to honour those who lost their lives and those who were injured.
Old Trafford and Munich services
United will host a remembrance service at Old Trafford from 14:45 to 15:15 GMT, with supporters invited to gather under the Munich Clock in the East Stand. The service will be led by Reverend John Boyers and will include a roll of honour, poems and readings delivered by journalist and supporter Andy Mitten, representatives of the Manchester United Foundation, Under-13 Academy teams, and club legend Sammy McIlroy. Senior club officials will lay wreaths in tribute.
Following the ceremony, supporters will be welcomed into the International Suite at the Stretford End to view memorabilia from 1958 and the Busby Babes, courtesy of the Manchester United Museum, and to share memories over refreshments.
At the same time, representatives of the Manchester Munich Memorial Foundation will lead a parallel service at the Manchesterplatz Memorial in Munich. United’s director of fan engagement, Rick McGagh and former goalkeeper Alex Stepney will attend alongside travelling supporters, residents and fan groups. Wreaths will be laid at the crash site, followed by a two-minute silence. The Munich service will be streamed live and free on MUTV.
Matchday tributes
Tributes will continue at United’s Premier League home fixture against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, February 7. Supporters are invited to a 30-minute memorial service under the Munich Clock at 10:30 GMT, featuring a minute’s silence, roll of honour and readings involving Academy teams and Foundation representatives.
Flags will fly at half-mast, the team will lay a wreath and families of the Busby Babes will attend the match. Fans have been asked to be in their seats 15 minutes before kick-off for the playing of The Flowers of Manchester. Supporter group The Red Army will also unfurl the “We’ll Never Die” banner across the Lower Stretford End.
United Women will also pay tribute at their home match against Liverpool on February 1, the closest fixture to the anniversary. Players will wear black armbands, a wreath will be laid, and Munich flags will be displayed in the North Stand.
Carrick: Players must understand the history
United manager Michael Carrick said his players must understand the significance of the Munich Air Disaster as the club marked the anniversary.
“As soon as you come to this club, you’re made aware. You can’t help but know and understand the history,” Carrick said at Thursday’s press conference. “It’s a responsibility when you work here that you understand what’s come before us. Munich is probably the biggest part of the history of this club — how the team and the football club bounced back and went on to success.”
The match against Spurs was moved forward a day to avoid clashing with Friday’s memorial service. Carrick, enjoying a strong run of results, said United were continuing to grow despite a lighter fixture list this season.
On Tottenham, he added, “They have really good attackers who stretch the backline and attack the box a lot. It’s a slightly different game to what we’ve played in recent weeks.”
Patrick Dorgu remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, while Matthijs de Ligt and Mason Mount are close to returning.
Tottenham manager Thomas Frank confirmed that outspoken social media comments by captain Cristian Romero regarding the club’s transfer policy had been “dealt with internally”.
“Cuti is very passionate and ambitious. Sometimes there can be an outburst, which happened this time. It’s something we’ve dealt with,” Frank said.
United head into the weekend fourth in the Premier League, while Tottenham sit 14th. With Arsenal and Manchester City leading the table, the battle for Champions League qualification is tightening, with just seven points separating third place from sixth.
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The global football community on Monday marked the third anniversary of the passing of Brazilian football icon Pelé, widely regarded as the greatest player the game has ever known.
Pelé, born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, died on 29 December 2022 at the age of 82 after a prolonged battle with illness, drawing an outpouring of grief and tributes that spanned continents, cultures and generations.
Three years on, his legacy remains undimmed. The only footballer to win the FIFA World Cup three times (1958, 1962 and 1970), Pelé redefined excellence on the pitch, combining athleticism, skill, creativity and an instinctive understanding of the game that set new standards for greatness.
From his formative years at Santos, where he became a teenage sensation, to his role in popularising football in the United States with the New York Cosmos, Pelé transcended club and country. He scored more than 1,000 career goals in official and unofficial matches, a milestone that became synonymous with his name and myth.
Beyond statistics, Pelé was football’s first true global superstar. He turned matches into spectacles, inspired millions of young players, and helped project football as a universal language capable of bridging race, politics and geography. His influence extended into diplomacy and humanitarian work, where he served as a global ambassador for sport, peace and social causes.
On this third anniversary, clubs, federations, former players and fans across the world have once again paid tribute, sharing memories, archival footage and messages celebrating a life that shaped the modern game. Stadiums, museums and public spaces in Brazil and beyond continue to honour him as O Rei — The King.
Though Pelé is no longer physically present, his spirit endures every time a child dreams with a ball at their feet, every time a goal is celebrated with joy and imagination, and every time football reminds the world of its power to inspire.
Three years after his passing, Pelé remains eternal — not just in memory, but in the very soul of the beautiful game.
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