Peter ‘Apo’ Fregene is Nigeria’s iconic and legendary national team goalkeeper. Born on May 17, 1947, in Sapele, Delta State, Fregene has left indelible footprints in the annals of Nigerian football. He had a successful career in football at club and national level for about two decades.
Fregene played his club football for Stationary Stores of Lagos and the Electricity Corporation of Nigeria (ECN) Lagos, helping both clubs to win the Nigerian FA Cup.
He manned the goalpost for the Nigerian national team, the Green Eagles from 1966 to 1983. He featured in the Nigerian squad at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City and the 1982 African Cup of Nations.
Fregene holds the record of being the goalkeeper with the longest period of service in the national team. A celebrated, diligent, swift, and magnificent goalkeeper, his agility and invincibility in the goalpost earned him the nickname ‘Flying Cat.’
In recent years, Fregene has been battling with health challenges which started with a fall in the bathroom in Warri. Government officials, public-spirited individuals, sports lovers, and corporate entities have come to his assistance, taking a substantial part of the medical bills.
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