One of Nigeria’s most successful football Managers and former international, Godwin Izilein, passed away on Wednesday, 7th February 2024, at the age of 81 in Benin City, the Capital of Edo State.

Izilein, who guided the Super Falcons to victory in the 2004 Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON)  in Johannesburg, reportedly passed away after “battling abdominal issues.”

Speaking under anonymity, a family member of Izilein’s disclosed that the coach of the Golden Eaglet at the 2005 African U-17 Championship, Izilein, passed away in a Benin hospital.

Kehinde Osagiede, Media Officer for Bendel Insurance, owned by Edo State, verified the information.

“He died today (Wednesday) after a brief illness. He was a former Insurance coach who gave everything to discovering and nurturing football talents, both male and female, in Nigeria. The club (Insurance) is saddened by his death,” Osagiede said.

Izilein, who is regarded as one of the best native Coaches in the nation, controversially led the Falcons to their sixth Women’s Africa Cup of Nations victory in South Africa in 2004.

Players protesting the Falcons’ continental triumph in South Africa insisted on receiving their camp allowances and incentives in Johannesburg before returning home, but irate Federation officials thought Izilein had encouraged the girls to quit.

Following the protest, the Nigeria Football Association Board, chaired by Ibrahim Galadima at the time, declined to give Izilein his claim of $12,000; subsequent boards continued to withhold payment for 20 years, until his death.

Izilein, who was gregarious and vocal till his passing, begged the Nigeria Football Federation to pay him the allowances he was due in his final interviews with The PUNCH.

“Since 2004 that they have owed me, I have not heard from the NFF,” Izilein told Sunday PUNCH June 2023.

“It’s a pity that I may not get the money again. It’s over 19 years that the NFF has yet to pay me the $12,000 and the N2m promised me by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.”

“What is my offence, since they refused to pay me my money? I did not do anything wrong. The girls said they were not coming back to Nigeria because they were owed by the NFF. I was on my knees begging them, I did not care if they were my daughters.”

“I told them that a different meaning would be read into this action. It is easy to say the coaches are responsible and that was exactly what it turned out to be but it’s not fair to me and I feel very bad.”

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The 81-year-old also managed local teams NNB FC and Bendel Insurance at the club level.