Moses Kpakor became a superstar after caging Algerian captain, Rabah Madjer, in the grand finale of the Algiers ‘ 90 African Nations Cup. He repeated the same feat in Kumasi six months later, rendering Ghana’s skipper, Abedi Pele Ayew, inactive.
Kpakor’s first Eagles cap came on January 25, 1990 against Cote D’Ivoire in Bauchi. Fans were tickled to see a greenhorn hold his own against Africa’s best. Madjer had won the UEFA Champions League with FC Porto 1987.
Abedi did not reckon with Kpakor’s superlative outing in the African Nations Cup qualifier in Kumasi on September 2, 1990. As far as he was concerned, those who gave the Nigerian credit for marking him out did not understand soccer.
I had a long chat with the Black Star’s captain in the Ngor area of Dakar after Ghana eliminated Nigeria from the Senegal ’92 African Nations Cup. He scored the equaliser in the game that ended 2-1, with Eagles’ fans blaming Austin Eguavoen for Abedi’s hit.
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The Black Star opened up after I reminded him of Kpakor in Kumasi and how everyone else blamed Eguavoen for giving the superstar so much room to operate and cause Nigerians so much pain at the Stade de L’ Amitie, Dakar on January 23, 1992.
Abedi rose up in defence of Eguavoen, diminishing Kpakor in the process.
He said : “The guy (Eguavoen)that marked me yesterday did a good job. He was not to blame for my goal. I am in terrific form. Nobody could have stopped me from scoring that goal.
“If anyone says my marker in Kumasi (Kpakor) would have done better, that can’t be true. In Kumasi, I was not fit. I was on holidays and had not played for a month and half. Here (Dakar), Abedi is in top shape.”
When I relayed this response to Kpakor recently, the former BCC Lions, Gboko captain almost bared his fangs.
” That was an excuse Abedi used. He wanted to shy away from my superb ability to mark out deadly players like him. But he made noise to come to the return leg in Lagos to prove me wrong.
” I trained more than ever before waiting for him but he didn’t show up. It was going to be worse for him. I had always trusted my marking,” Kpakor said.
Clemens Westerhof was pleasantly and hugely disappointed that Abedi did not come for the Lagos game on April 13, 1991. The Black Stars arrived with other big names like Tony Baffoe, Nii Odartey Lamptey, Yaw Preko, Prince Opoku Polley and Richard Naawu.
The Eagles were Star studded too. Aloy Agu retained his gloves. He had lost a tooth in Kumasi. Stephen Keshi was back as well as Etim Esin, Samson Siasia, Ben Iroha, Ajibade Babalade, Eguavoen, Henry Nwosu, Thompson Oliha, Friday Ekpo and Friday. Elahor.
In the absence of Abedi, Westerhof rested Kpakor. The game ended goalless. In goal for Ghana was Edward Ansa who played for Nigerian club, Iwuanyanwu National. The first leg in Kumasi went Ghana’s way, thanks to Saara Mensah who struck in the 33rd minute.
Both sides qualified for Senegal ’92 from their group Four and met in the semi finals. Abedi was there as the Man of the tournament. Unfortunately, Kpakor did not make it. On June 15, 1991, he fell to injury captaining BCC Lions against Iwuanyanwu in Owerri.
The two players come from soccer families. Abedi’s younger brother, Kwame Ayew, also played for the Black Stars. He won bronze at the Barcelona ’92 Olympic Games. Abedi’s son, Dede, captained Ghana to win the FIFA Under-20 Championships in 2009. Two others, Jordan and Ibrahim also made it to the top.
Moses Kpakor’s immediate elder brother, Terfa, played for Nigeria. Another elder brother, Joseph, was a good footballer. They all picked it from their father. One other Kpakor, the last child, starred for Junior BCC Lions and Hilltop Obudu.
The year 1990 was a good one. Kpakor won the ECOWAS Cup with Nigeria in Bauchi. He lifted the Africa Winners Cup and also grabbed a Nations Cup silver medal.
Winning the ECOWAS Cup came with a lot of drama. Westerhof refused to invite any big names to his team. That was how players like Kpakor, Daniel Amokachi,Okechukwu Uche, Ben Iroha, Isaac Semitoje, Tajudeen Oyekanmi, Wasiu Ipaye, Herbert Anijekwu and Baldwin Bazuaye became regulars.
In the final, Senegal gifted Nigeria the cup. Referee Baddou Jasseh of Gambia insisted on penalty kicks after both teams ended it goalless during full and over time. The Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi had no floodlights. Teranga Lions coach, Lamine Dieng, offered the cup to the Super Eagles.
Kpakor won the Challenge Cup five times. ” I played in six FA Cup finals. I won with Abiola Babes in 1987. That was my first. I won four times with BCC Lions, in 1989,1993, 1994 and 1997 respectively.”
Kpakor has gone back to his first love, teaching. He is also in mourning. His wife passed on recently.
