34 years ago, almost to the day, I was one of 16 young Nigerian football players that walked onto the turf of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, before an audience of some 100,000 Nigerians packed in a 60,000 capacity stadium like Sardine to attempt to create history. 90 minutes later, driven by the passion of a hundred million Nigerians, the goal was achieved. The Green Eagles played beyond their capacities, flew high above the Desert Warriors and destroyed the invincibility of an Algerian team that was at its peak and its best, obviously more experienced and probably even better than the Eagles.
On the night, Nigeria could not be stopped having come through some really difficult early matches. We played our best match of the championship, scored the highest number of goals and won the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in our country’s history.
The president of Nigeria at the time, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, led the sea of Nigerians that physically watched the event live at the stadium. As young men, we were over the moon. We had worked very hard and prepared well under the guidance of professional sports managers and administrators. Nigeria had well-established sports institutions, a clear sports policy, a clear strategy and vision for sports development.
We saw ourselves as ambassadors and patriots serving our country willingly in answer to our nations call to duty. Our victory in 1980 was the culmination of a process that started in 1976 when the national team went to Dire Dawa and against all odds returned with bronze medals for the first time in our history. That was the impetus needed to aim higher and we did. In that spirit, we went to Ghana in 1978 and reinforced our confidence.
When 1980 came and the event was to hold in our country we believed we had to win and were ready. The preparations were hard but meticulous, driven by our single-mindedness to be part of history.
The entire country was involved on March 22, 1980. It was a day none of us that played in that match would ever forget. We soared like eagles.
In the end, hard work, good luck, the people’s support, our government’s commitment, paid off. We won. And we were deservedly rewarded well without any solicitation by us.
This day, 34 years after that victory, I can still play back in my mind almost every minute of the final match – the blaring trumpet of late musician Zeal Onyia marshaling Nigerians to the great battle, the vociferous singing of 100,000 Nigerians at the stadium, and the rampaging supercharged Green Eagles.
It was a day when the elements had no choice but to side with the Eagles, and to provide Nigerians with the cause to truly celebrate.
34 years after that victory, the heroes of 1980 are still remembered by most Nigerians. Six of those heroes have passed on to the beyond – Muda Babatunde Lawal, Best Ogedegbe, Okey Isima, Alloysius Atuegbu, Martin Eyo, and Tunde Bamidele.
The rest are alive and kicking, not by our strength but by the Grace of God, grateful for the opportunity of life, and of that day, March 22, 1980 when our names were written in Gold in the archives of Nigerian football.
On behalf of all 22 of us, including Emmanuel Okala, Sylvanus Okpala, Felix Owolabi, Shefiu Mohammed, John Orlando, Frank Nwachi, Christian Chukwu, Ifeanyi Onyedika, Henry Nwosu, Moses Effiong, Charles Bassey, Godwin Odiye, David Adiele, Kadiri Ikhana, Adokie Amiesimaka and I, I use this opportunity to say thank you once again to all Nigerians for their support and love still being bestowed lavishly on us since 1980! (The Guardian).
REMARK BY ADMIN: Was mathematical Segun Odegbami not part of this team? Hmmmm!