Stephen Keshi dies at 54.

Former Nigerian head coach Stephen Keshi has died at age 54.

The football icon reportedly died suddenly after suffering cardiac arrest in the early hours of Wednesday in Benin City, Edo state.

The former international football player and coach had lost his wife of 33 years, Kate, last year after a prolonged battle with cancer.

Nigeria’s League Management Company (LMC), incorporated for participating clubs in Nigeria Professional Football League, confirmed the report on its social media page Wednesday morning.

“STEPHEN OKECHUKWU KESHI, former Super Eagles coach and long serving captain IS DEAD at 54.”

“Reliable family sources said Keshi suddenly became ill in Benin City early this morning and passed on before he could get to the hospital,”

TheCable also confirmed his death from a member of his family as well as one of his close associates.

“He was not ill at all, never showed any signs of illness, but we suspect he never got over the death of his wife,” a friend said.

He is survived by four children and his mother.

Keshi, nicknamed the “Big Boss”, was one of only two people, along with Egypt’s Mahmoud El-Gohary, to have won the Africa Cup of Nations as both a player and a coach.

He worked as manager of the Mali national football team, after being appointed in April 2008 on a two-year deal.

He also coached Togo and Nigeria at the World Cup.