Former Nigeria international goalkeeper, Peter Fregene, has passed away at the age of 77 after a long battle with illness, Afrosport reports.
The former Green Eagles shot-stopper, nicknamed the “Flying Cat”, was reported to have been on life support in the past few days.
Fregene’s passing was confirmed by his former teammates and ex-Nigeria international, Segun Odegbami, via a post on social media.
Odegbami wrote on Facebook: “And the Man died. A few minutes ago, Peter ‘Apo’ Fregene, OLY, former goalkeeper for Nigeria’s Green Eagles, who has been on life-support for the past one week, passed on to meet his Creator.
“He died quietly in the presence of two of his children and his devoted wife, Tina.
“On behalf of all generations of Nigerian footballers, Olympians, sports persons, his family, friends, fans and a few incredible Nigerians that quietly rallied round and, with their support, prayers and the will of the Creator of the Universe, kept him alive until this night, I say a big ‘thank you’.
Fregene played actively between the 1960s and 1980s, winning the Nigerian FA Cup with Stationery stores of Lagos and Lagos ECN.
He was the first choice goalkeeper for the Nigeria national football team from 1968 to 1971, before being recalled for the 1982 African Cup of Nations finals.
Fregene also represented Nigeria at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.
