Ex-Green Eagles goal keeper, Fregene a.k.a Apo, dies at 77

Fondly called Apo by teammates and admirers, Fregene who has been critically ill and on life support over the last few days at a hospital in Oghara, Delta State, reportedly died in the presence of his two children and devoted wife, Tina.

Erstwhile Green Eagles winger, Mathematical Segun Odegbami, who has been rallying kind-hearted Nigerians for financial assistance for the deceased over the last few days, announced the death of his former national teammate almost at midnight on Sunday.

“And the Man died, “ he wrote in a viral post.

“A few minutes ago, Peter ‘Apo’ Fregene, OLY, a 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’.

“Good night ‘Apo’.

Rest my friend, rest in peace, finally! “ Odegbami added.

Fregene was Nigeria’a first choice goalkeeper between 1968 to 1971, before being recalled for the 1982 African Cup of Nations finals in Libya.

He also represented Nigeria at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.

Born 14th May 1949 in Sapele, Fregene played for Lagos rivals Electric Corporation of Nigeria (ECN) and Stationery Stores during a career that spanned the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He won the Nigerian FA Cup with both ECN and Stationery Stores.