Heartbreak for former Super Eagles coach as 28yo daughter passes away after prolonged illness

Nasarawa United has expressed deep sorrow following the passing of Fauziya Yusuf, the daughter of the club’s Technical Adviser, Salisu Yusuf, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 28-year-old, who held a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Bayero University, Kano, died last weekend after a prolonged illness. She has since been laid to rest in Kano in accordance with Islamic rites.

The tragic news was confirmed in a statement by Nasarawa United’s Director of Media, Eche Amos, who extended the club’s condolences to Yusuf and his family.

“We are deeply saddened to learn about the tragic loss of the beloved daughter of our Technical Adviser, Salisu Yusuf, whose sad incident occurred on Sunday evening.

“Twenty-eight-year-old Fauziya, the third child of Coach Salisu Yusuf, passed away following a protracted illness.

“The late Fauziya, who has since been buried according to Islamic rites at Kofar Gadon Kaya, Kano, had a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Bayero University, Kano.

“Our hearts go out to our beloved Coach and his immediate family during this incredibly difficult time, as the entire club and members stand with him in prayer and support, while wishing him strength, comfort, and peace.

“May the fond memory of his beloved daughter be a blessing to him and his loved ones. We also pray the Almighty Allah to forgive the shortcomings of Late Fauziya and grant her Aljanna Firdausi.”

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Salisu Yusuf is one of the most experienced coaches in Nigerian football, having built an extensive career spanning over two decades.

He first took charge of Nasarawa United in 2002 before moving on to Lobi Stars, where he played a key role in their 2003 Nigerian FA Cup triumph.

His coaching journey also included spells at Dolphins FC, Kano Pillars — where he guided them to the 2008 Nigerian Premier League title — Enyimba, and El-Kanemi Warriors.

Yusuf’s association with the Nigeria national team began in 2009 when he was appointed assistant coach to Samson Siasia. He later worked under Stephen Keshi before being named the chief coach of the Super Eagles in 2016.

In 2018, Yusuf was the subject of a BBC Africa investigation into football corruption in Africa.

A secretly recorded video showed him accepting cash from undercover journalists posing as football agents seeking to influence player selection for the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

Although the BBC documentary stated there was no evidence that the payment affected his squad decisions, Yusuf was subsequently suspended by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for a year and fined $5,000. He denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that the cash gift did not influence his player choices.

Despite the controversy, Yusuf returned to coaching and continued to work within Nigerian football. He took charge of Rangers International in 2019 before being reappointed as Kano Pillars’ head coach in 2021.

His latest role as Technical Adviser of Nasarawa United saw him return to the club where he first made his mark in Nigerian football management.

Nasarawa United are currently in a race to avoid relegation from the NPFL as they sit in 17th position after gaining only 36 points from 31 games.