Ex-Green Eagles goalie, Peter Fregene, dies at 77

One of Nigeria’s longest-serving players, Peter Fregene, has passed away after a prolonged illness. He was aged 77.
The former Green Eagles goalkeeper was confirmed dead late on Sunday night by his former teammate, Segun Odegbami.
Odegbami said Fregene popularly known as “Flying Cat’ died in the presence of his wife, Tina, and two of his children.
“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 week, passed on to meet his creator.

“He died quietly in the presence of two of his children and his devoted wife, Tina,” Odegbami wrote on Sunday.
Fregene served the country across three decades, the first and only goalkeeper to do so. He began his national team career by featuring for the Green Eagles at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico. He was a consistent figure through the mid-70s before he lost his place with the team. Fregene resurfaced when he was recalled for the 1982 African Cup of Nations finals.
Fregene, who represented Nigeria at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico and featured prominently in the national team during the 1960s and 70s, was known for his incredible reflexes and resilience between the posts.
His exploits earned him the nickname ‘Apo,’ a reference to his agility in goal.
Odegbami, in the message, also thanked all who had rallied around the football icon during his illness.