Sylvanus Okpala, a former Assistant Coach of the Super Eagles under Stephen Keshi, has described the exit of the former coach of the national team as shocking.

Okpala told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos that Keshi’s exit was shocking because the two of them had a telephone conversation only a week ago.

He said he never expected that the chat was going to be their last.

“And when he called, I left my phone at home because every morning I go to exercise. So when I returned, I saw his missed call.

“Then I said ok let me take my bath and after, which I will call him. Immediately I finished taking my bath, he called back and we discussed.

“We didn’t even talk much about football. I said Oga to what do I owe this call and he asked me if I was ok.

“He asked me about my family and I said we were okay, and I asked about his job, to which he answered in the affirmative.

“Then after two days, I called him back, and we just talked about how we were doing.

“I never knew that was the last time I will hear from him.’’

Okpala, who was a contemporary of Keshi from their youth football days, told NAN that they got called to the senior national team at the same time.

“We started together from what we call today Flying Eagles in 1978/79. We also joined the Green Eagles almost at the same time, the Super Eagles as you call them today, before we met again as coaches at the national team.

“So it’s being a long journey together.’’