Tears and Heartbreak as Former Super Eagles Icon Is Laid to Rest

The remains of former Super Eagles luminary, Ayo Ogunlana, were interred on Saturday in his hometown of Kaduna.

The family of the erstwhile midfield virtuoso had announced the funeral arrangements prior to the final interment, which took place on 1st March 2025, when the body was conveyed from St. Gerald Catholic Hospital to Barnawa Cemetery.

The late midfield gem was a captivating figure during several pivotal Nigeria FA Cup encounters in the 1980s, commanding the center for the Super Eagles in the latter part of the decade and at the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Algeria. The former Nigerian international midfielder passed away on Friday, 14th February 2025, in Kaduna following his early-morning walk.

Ogunlana was majestic in the midfield as Nigeria surpassed Guinea and Zimbabwe to secure qualification for the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations, and was sovereign against Cameroon in a 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Ibadan, which the Super Eagles clinched with a decisive 2-0 victory. He also participated in the 1990 ECOWAS Cup competition, which Nigeria hosted in Kaduna.

In March 1990, the midfield maestro garnered widespread acclaim as Nigeria claimed the silver medals at the 17th Africa Cup of Nations in Algeria, nearly securing Nigeria a late equalizer in the final against the hosts and eventual champions, Algeria, from his favored dead-ball position.