Uche is third Nigerian player to commit suicide

According to a statement by the USA police, former Super Eagles defender Uche Okafor committed suicide last weekend. This has brought to three the number of Nigerian footballers who have committed suicide since 1952.

The reason for the suicide is unknown. Uche’s death came 13 years after that of former England international and Nigerian-born player Justin Fashanu, who was found hanging from the rafters of an East London garage. Like Uche, an inquest ruled that Fashanu killed himself.
ATB Ottun, one of the pioneer members of the Nigerian national team, the famed UK Tourists of 1949, also reportedly sank into depression in 1952, after returning from the United Kingdom. After being declared missing, his body was later found floating in a lagoon.
Uche’s death also follows the suicide of German goalkeeper Robert Enke. He committed suicide a few months ago because he could not get over the death of his two-year old daughter, Lara, who died of a heart defect.

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