Mike Onyemachara: Former Nigeria defender dies at 53

The former First Bank player, who represented the country at youth level, has been reported dead

Ex-Nigeria youth international Mike Onyemachara has been confirmed dead aged of 53.

According to numerous reports, the retired defender passed away on Friday.

“He was reported to be in good health when his wife left for work and kids left for school only for them to return and see that the food served to him on the table was not touched and he was dead,” according to Punch per the Niche.

“While the circumstances surrounding his death are still hazy as of press time, there are speculations that the ace footballer died in his 3-bedroom apartment in Ajegunle.

“However, some of his teammates who were very close to him, reported that he had complained of back pains in recent times.”

Onyemachara was part of the Nigeria U20 squad that finished as runners up at the 1989 FIFA U20 World Cup staged in Saudi Arabia.

In that tournament, the Flying Eagles famously came back from a four-goal deficit to overcome Soviet Union (now Russia) on penalties in a quarter-final match staged in Daman.