Former Nigerian goalkeeper and Super Eagles Assist. Coach, Joe Erico, exits the world

By Boye Ajayi

Former Nigerian goalkeeper and assistant coach of the Super Eagles, Joe Erico, is dead, reports Persecondnews.

The death of the former goalkeeper was confirmed on Thursday morning by the Super Eagles Media Officer, Babafemi Raji.

Erico, until his death, was an apostle of ‘Jogo Bonito’ – an aesthetic football philosophy that is based on the tip-tap playing pattern similar to that of Brazilian Samba.

Erico, popularly known as ‘Jogo Bonito Exponent,’ was goalkeeper for Electricity Connectors of Nigeria (ECN) and for Green Eagles of Nigeria in his playing days.

He introduced the style of play in Nigeria in the 90s’ – while still the coach of Julius Berger FC a.k.a Adewale Bridge boys.

Erico alongside late coach Shuaibu Amodu and late Stephen Keshi qualified the Super Eagles for the 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup, but they were dismissed before the Mundial.

Persecondnews reports that the assignment was later taken over by former Nigeria and CONCACAF/Trinidad and Tobago Technical Director, Chief Adeboye Onigbinde,ably assisted by Coach Fanny Amun.