Rayo Vallecano's former Nigerian goalkeeper Wilfred Agbonavbare passed away on Tuesday in an hospital in the town of Alcala de Henares, close to Madrid, after a long battle against cancer.
"We are mourning. Cancer has taken our away Wilfred," read a message in Rayo's official Twitter account.
The club said there will be a minute's silence in his honour at Rayo's home game on Friday against Deportivo La Coruna.
In Rayo Vallecano's last Liga match at Vicente Calderon Stadium against Atletico Madrid on 24 January was displayed a banner that read "Fuerza Wilfred" (You Can Do It Wilfred). But the former Super Eagles goalkeeper didn't survive it. He was part of the Nigerian U-20 side at the 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship in Mexico that included Yisa Sofoluwe, Dahiri Sadi, Femi Olukanni, Tarila Okoronwanta, Humphrey Edobor, Tajudeen Disu, Ali Jeje, Amaechi Otti, Benson Edema, Christopher Anigala etc
Agbonavbare played for the then famous New Nigeria Bank of Benin (NNB) and BCC Lions, then played for Rayo Vallecano between 1990-1996 before calling it quit in his career with Spanish third division side Ecija.
He was reserve goalkeeper for Nigeria at the USA 1994 World Cup and made 15 appearances for the Super Eagles. His most recent engagement was as a porter at Madrid's Barajas airport and goalkeeping coach in a community team in Madrid.
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