The Nigeria Football Federation has announced the death of Coach Christopher Alor, a member of the technical crew that guided Nigeria’s Falconets to the final of the 2010 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Germany. He was 75.
Alor was part of the coaching team responsible for the tactical and technical preparation of the Nigeria U20 women national team during the tournament.
The Falconets drew with England and Mexico and defeated Japan in the group phase. They then lost to the United States of America on penalties in the quarter-finals before beating Colombia 1-0 in the semi-finals.
Nigeria’s run ended with a 0-2 defeat by Germany in the final, but the achievement made the team the first Nigeria women national team to secure a podium finish at the FIFA World Cup.
The NFF said Alor’s contribution to Nigerian football, particularly his work with young players and the national team, would be remembered.
“The NFF mourns deeply the demise of Coach Christopher Alor, for his contributions to Nigerian football, especially his work with young players and his involvement with the national team,” NFF Acting General Secretary Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme said on Monday.
“His time with the national team was significant in that Nigeria attained a historic feat of earning the FIFA World Cup silver medals in Germany in 2010.”
The federation also expressed its condolences to Alor’s immediate family, friends and the young players he worked with.
“We pray that God grants his soul eternal rest, and also grant those he has left behind, including his immediate family, friends and the young players that he loved to work with, the fortitude to bear the loss,” Ikpeme added.