Former Super Eagles midfielder, Emmanuel Ebiede has died of Hepatomegaly (enlargement of the liver), his daughter confirmed on Friday.

The 47-year-old midfielder who had two caps for the Super Eagles is survived by a wife and three kids. He was confirmed dead around 4pm on Friday, 14th of April at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital.

Speaking to The Punch, David Doherty, who contested for the presidency of the Nigeria Football Federation at last year’s election, confirmed the death of the former SC Heerenveen player.

Doherty had opened an account for donors to assist the ailing Ebiede. The Sport administrator raised close to 1million naira until his death on Friday.

“I just spoke with the daughter who confirmed to me that Emmanuel is dead,” Doherty told The PUNCH.

“I’m very sad as we speak. This was someone whom I spoke with two days ago to know how he was faring.”

Also confirming the death of the former Sharks of Port Harcourt midfielder, Olayinka Owolewa tweeted.

‘I have just been informed that we lost former Flying Eagles of Nigeria player, Emmanuel Ebiede, this evening. His daughter, Lisa Ebiede confirmed his death to me in a telephone chat few minutes ago. Many thanks to everyone that contributed to make him live again.’

Ebiede had two caps for the Super Eagles, making his debut under Serbian Bora Milutinovic in the 1-0 win over Iran in a pre-1998 World Cup friendly January 28, 1998.

At club level, Ebiede joined Belgian First Division side, SC Eendracht Aalst, from boyhood club Sharks of Port Harcourt in 1995.

In 1997, he moved to SC Heerenveen in the Dutch Eredivisie, before further spells in the United Arab Emirates (1999-2004) and Israel (2006-2008). He then returned home to feature for Bayelsa United and Sharks. He retired in 2011.

Photo credit – Alamy