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Olubayo Adefemi came into limelight six years ago, when current Super Eagles
coach, Samson Siasia led a group of talented Nigerian youngsters to the 2005
FIFA Under 20 World Cup in the Netherlands.

Although little was known prior to the start of the tournament about the
Israeli-based defender, all that was to change by the end of the World Cup.

After sitting out the Flying Eagles’ opening two games against Brazil and
South Korea, Siasia picked Adefemi to fill the vacuum created by the suspension
of first-choice right-back, Kennedy Chinwo for the crucial game against
Switzerland.

Adefemi seized the opportunity and, even though Chinwo returned and started
the round of 16 game against Ukraine, he ended up completing the game and
afterwards became Siasia’s undisputed number one for the remainder of the
tournament.

To cap it up, he grabbed a memorable goal against Morocco in the
semi-finals, accompanied by an even more memorable goal celebration, before
providing the assist for Chinedu Obasi’s wonder goal against Argentina in the
final.

Three years later, he featured in five matches of Nigeria’s six-match run on
the way to a second-place finish at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, capping it up
with yet another memorable goal in Nigeria’s 4-1 whitewash of Belgium in the
semi-finals.

Playing at the 2014 World Cup, as well as next year’s Cup of Nations, became
a burning desire for the Lagos-born ace. But all that will not come to pass
after he died last Monday in an automobile crash in Greece on his way to the
airport to catch a flight to Nigeria.

His Greek club, Skoda Xanthi, had granted him a week-long leave to return
home and formalise plans for his wedding, which he and his bride-to-be,
Folashade Adesina had fixed for May 26 in Lagos.

But it wasn’t to be as the cold hands of death snatched him, ten years after
doing likewise with his father – an officer of the Nigerian Army – thus
throwing his loved ones, as well as the global football family into mourning.

“My condolences to the family of Olubayo Adefemi, the Nigerian player who
tragically died in a car accident on Monday,” stated FIFA president, Sepp
Blatter through his official Twitter account on Tuesday.

Tuesday also saw officials and players of his Greek side holding a memorial
candlelight service in memory of their departed star at their home stadium,
with further plans to organise a friendly match with proceeds going to his
family.

Arrangements were also concluded by the club, in conjunction with the
Nigerian embassy in Athens, to fly his corpse back to Nigeria on Monday.

Well-wishers have since Monday thronged his family’s abode at the Alli Owe
Estate, in Ikorodu, to commiserate with the Adefemis and sign a condolence
register.

His national team buddies, along with the Nigerian FA, were not left out, as
they have also commiserated with the family of Adefemi who epitomized humility,
courage and generosity.

“I was speechless and totally devastated when I heard that Olubayo had
passed on,” said Osaze Odemwingie. “Memories of him started flashing in my head
of how humble and levelheaded he was during our last games in Abuja last month
as well as during the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.”

“I initially thought it was a joke when a friend sent me a message on Monday
but it turned out to be true,” added Oluwafemi Ajilore from his base in the
Netherlands. “He was a very humble guy and very, very funny. He always knew how
to lift up our morale whenever we were down. We’ll definitely miss him.” And so
will we.