Former Iwuayanwu Nationale FC owner, Emmanuel Iwuayanwu dies at 81
Former Iwuanyawu Nationale Owner, chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu is dead.
chief Iwuanyanwu, who until his death was the Ohanaeze Ndigbo president died after a brief illness.
Jide, his son, announced the passing in a statement on Thursday.
The son said the late Ohanaeze president-general died on Thursday after a brief illness.
He added that the family will announce the burial arrangements after ‘due consultations’.
The late chief Iwuayanwu became the owner of Iwuayanwu Nationale in 1985 after the change of ownership of the former Spartans of Owerri, formed in 1976, from the Imo state government
to the former publisher of the Champions newspaper.
The club later transformed to Heartland of Owerri after the Imo state government took over its ownership again.
The club however enjoyed its most successful spell under chief Iwuanyanwu after emerging as Nigerian League winners in 1987 ahead of Leventis United on goal difference, the first of four straight championships. The league win earned them the right to represent Nigeria in CAF Champions Cup.
In 1988, Iwuanyanwu Nationale repeated as League champions and completed the double as they won the Nigerian FA Cup for the first time, beating Flash Flamingoes of Benin 3–0 in the final. The club also reached CAF Champions Cup final, winning 1–0 in first leg tie in Ibadan, losing 4–0 in Constantine, Algeria in return leg versus Entente Setif.
In 1989, the Iwuanyanwu retained the league title but lost the FA Cup final 0–1 to BCC Lions. They played Stationery Stores of Lagos in Lagos in the first ever game of the newly professional Nigerian league and won 2–1, with Ben Iroha scoring the first goal.
Nationale emerged as the first pro league winners in Nigeria.
The club’s fortunes finally changed for the worse in 1991, when Nationale lost the league title to Julius Berger. The club also crashed out of CAF Champions Cup in the semifinals, losing to Nakivubo of Uganda 4–3 on aggregate, including a 1–1 draw at home where a win would have qualified them for the final.
