Sports minister mourns former Green Eagles defender

Minister of youth and sports development, Sunday Dare, and the Nigeria football federation have commiserated with the family of former international, Yisa Sofoluwe, who died on Tuesday in Lagos.

Sofoluwe, who was diagnosed with mild cerebral atrophy, a brain disease, died on Tuesday evening at the Lagos university teaching hospital aged 53.

In a statement signed by the media office of the minister, dare expressed shock at the sudden demise of the former national team defence stalwart.

Dare described Sofoluwe as a committed, disciplined, humble and patriotic player.

In a statement on twitter, the NFF said, it is devastated to hear of the passing the former green eagles defender Yisa Sofoluwe after a brief illness on Tuesday.

The NFF says its thoughts and prayers are with his family and the football community in Nigeria.