Former Super Falcons coach, Ismaila Mabo, has died at the age of 78 after a prolonged illness.
Mabo died in the early hours of Monday morning at his residence in Jos, the capital of Plateau State.
His younger brother and a former Golden Eaglets star player, Salisu Nakande Mamuwa, announced the death in the early hours of Monday.
He said, “Inna lillahi wa Inna ilaihir raji’un, I just lost my elder brother this morning, Coach Mabo Ismaila, former Chief Coach of Super Falcons of Nigeria, may Aljanna Firdausi b his final abode, Ameen thumma Ameen.”
The legendary Mighty Jets of Jos captain and ex-international had in January confirmed that he had been battling illness following the demise of his wife, The PUNCH reports.
Regarded as the most successful Nigerian coach in women’s football, Mabo led the Falcons to their best-ever outing at the Women’s World Cup — a quarter-final finish at the 1999 edition — and was also the coach of the side at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games.