According to Abang, the former Falcons’ handler had complained on severe headache on Sunday, a day after the Super Eagles was defeated by Congo in Calabar. He added that the late coach was rushed to a private hospital afterwards.

“He was diagnosed of malaria fever and typhoid in the hospital. His death is a big shock to all of us,”  Abang said.

The football administrator stated that the state FA had paid a condolence visit to the family of the deceased on Tuesday, saying: “We just returned from the condolence visit and we have told his family members to give us updates on plans for his burial.”

Speaking on the tragic death, Super Falcons assistant coach to 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup held in China, Peter Dedevbo, described the news of Ntiero’s death as shocking.

“Oh, this is sad. Ntiero thought me some of the tricks in the game when I assisted him to the 2007 World Cup in China,”  the current coach of Nigeria’s Falconets lamented.

Former coach of the Falconets, Edat Egan, said that the death of Ntiero has created a big vacuum in Nigeria’s women football.

Egan, who led the Falconets to the final of the 2010 edition of FIFA U-20 Women’s World in Germany, said that Ntiero paid his dues during his days with the state female football outfit, Pelican Stars, and the Super Falcons.

Also, former Falcons’ coach, Godwin Izilien and former African queen of the track, Mercy Nku  described the late Ntiero as a great sportsman.

The late Ntiero, in a recent interview, had lamented sorry state of women’s football in Nigeria, especially the female league which has been without a sponsor since 2002.