Former Super Eagles midfielder, Thompson Oliha, is dead. He died in the early hours of Sunday June 30. Born in October, 1968 in Benin City, the Edo state capital, Oliha played for clubs in Africa and Europe. He played for Bendel Insurance (1985-1987), Iwuanyanwu Nationale (1988-1991), Africa Sports (1992-1993), Maccabi Ironi Ashdod F.C. (1993-1994) and Antalyaspor (1994-1995). Oliha retired at the age of 27, as a result of a knee injury.


Oliha made a total of 31 appearances for the Super Eagles, scoring two goals. He made his international debut in 1990, in a friendly against Senegal and made his last appearance at the 1994 FIFA World Cup, as a late substitute against Italy.


Until his death, Oliha was one of the coaches at the Kwara State Football Academy in Ilorin. Oliha is the third member of the 1994 African Cup of Nations winning team to pass away, following Uche Okafor who died in the US and Rashidi Yekini who died last year.