Football legend Allan Thigo to be cremated, family says
Sports
By
Mike Kihaki
| May 10, 2026
Kenyan football legend Allan Thigo will be cremated within 72 hours in accordance with his final wishes, his family has confirmed.
The former Harambee Stars and Gor Mahia midfield maestro died on Saturday evening at his home in Bungoma at the age of 74, after a long battle with cancer.
According to relatives, Thigo had left clear instructions on how he wanted his final rites conducted.
“In his final testament, he said he should be cremated as soon as possible. He instructed his next of kin to contact his eldest son and initiate the burial arrangements,” a family source said.
The family added that the football icon desired a modest and dignified farewell.
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“He said people should not feast at his burial and should not politicise the event. He wanted a quiet and peaceful sendoff,” the relative added.
His body is expected to be transported from Bungoma to Kisumu, where the final rites will be conducted.
Thigo, fondly remembered as the “90-minute man,” “Ogango Wuon Pap,” and “owner of the field,” is regarded as one of the greatest attacking midfielders Kenya has ever produced.
He spent more than a decade at Gor Mahia between 1970 and 1981, scoring 88 goals to become the club’s second-highest scorer in history.
In a statement, Gor Mahia mourned the loss of a man whose influence extended far beyond the pitch.
“It is with deep sadness that we mourn the passing of former player and coach Allan Thigo, a figure whose dedication and passion for football was remarkable,” the club said.
His time at Gor Mahia coincided with one of the club’s most successful eras.
Thigo served as both player and coach, guiding K’Ogalo to an unbeaten league title in 1976 and leading the side to the finals of the 1979 African Cup Winners’ Cup.
He also earned more than 80 caps for Harambee Stars and represented Kenya at the 1972 Africa Cup of Nations.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya described Thigo as one of Kenya’s finest football talents.
“Kenyan football has lost a true icon and an astute attacking midfielder whose brilliance, influence and contribution to the mastery of the game will forever remain etched in Kenya’s football history,” he said.
Gor Mahia patron Eliud Owalo described him as the greatest attacking midfielder of his generation.
“Kenyan football has lost the greatest attacking midfielder of his generation, known for beauty, flow, entertainment and orchestrating the finest midfield play ever displayed by a Kenyan team,” he said.
Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo also paid tribute, describing Thigo as “a midfielder of unmatched elegance and unwavering commitment.”
“As the heartbeat of Gor Mahia for over a decade and a proud servant of the Harambee Stars, Thigo was a true sportsman whose legacy stretches far beyond the game itself,” he said.
“And now, the man we fondly called ‘the 90-minute man’ has finally taken his final walk off the pitch of life, having given his all until the very last whistle. Rest in Peace, Champ,” he added.