It began 50 years ago and until 2020 comes, Nigeria’s uncanny record of playing against, at least, one eventual soccer medalist still stands9. Engaging the Green Eagles or Dream Team is one sure way of getting a medal round the neck.
Nigeria’s debut was at Mexico ’68, at a time war was raging at home. Drawn alongside the Eagles in the group matches were Brazil, Spain and Japan. The team lost to Spain, drew 3-3 with Brazil before falling to Japan. The Japs played up to the last games and got themselves a bronze.
It was an interesting tournament. The Japanese keeper, Kenzo Yokohama, bore the name of one the country’s seaports. One of the Nigerian goalies, Yakubu Bauchi, also bore the name of a town. He was lucky to make the trip. Inua Rigogo fell out of favour with Eagles officials thus giving Peter Fregene a smooth sail as number one.
Japanese cars were not common in Africa at the time but the team had names that sounded like motor cars. There were Teruki Miyamoto, Kunishige Kamamoto, Ikuo Matsumoto and Masakatsu Miyamoto.
The captain of the Nigerian team, Sam Opone, chose to remain in Lagos while some of his Ndokwa kinsmen ran back home. Peter Anieke and Austin Ofokwu lost many of their Igbo brothers in the Asaba Massacre of 1968. One man who scored in Mexico, Sam Garba Okoye, was also Igbo, born to a Northern mother and like full back, Tony Igwe, grew up in Jos.
Two other members of the team, Paul Hamilton, an Ijaw, and Sebastine Brodericks-Imasuen, from Benin, spoke Igbo. They lived in Onitsha, playing for Justice Chuba Ikpeazu’s Redoubtables. The High Court judge once rewarded his players with bicycles. A few years later, Hamilton would join the Nigeria Army team.
The soccer event of Mexico ’68, was like war. Morocco qualified but pulled out because of Israel. Ghana took their place and lost 5-3 to the Israelis. They fought themselves, from the field to the Games Village.. Czechoslovakia and Guetamala also got involved in another brawl.
Nigeria pulled out of the 1976 Olympics in protest against apartheid. When the Eagles returned in 1980, thanks to Zambia’s withdrawal, they ended it 1-1 with Czechs. And that was the only point for the Segun Odegbami led side. Czechoslovakia advanced to win the gold medal while Nigeria came back empty handed.
In 1988,Sylvanus Okpala, captained the team to Seoul. A 4-0 pounding by Brazil, powered by Romario and Bebeto, was the beginning of a bad dream. The South Americans won silver after falling 2-1 to the Soviet Union in the grand finale.
Nigeria paid Brazil back in 1996. The selecao was loaded. Ronaldo, Aldair, Roberto Carlos and Bebeto among others. Manager, Mario Zagalo, had led them to win the World Cup in 1970. The Olympic soccer medal was one laurel missing in their Hall of Fame.
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The Brazilians were 13 minutes away from the semis with a 3-1 advantage. Then came one boy, Nwankwo Kanu, skipper of the Nigerian team. After Victor Ikpeba reduced the tally, Papillo equalized in the last minute and finished it all with killer goal four minutes into overtime.
The Dream team beat Argentina 3-2 to win Africa’s first Olympic soccer gold medal. The Argies paraded such high profile names as Diego Simeone, Hernan Crespo, Javier Zanetti and Roberto Sensini. Brazil finished with the bronze medal.
At Sydney 2000, all eyes were on defending champions, the Dream Team. Celestine Babayaro was there again. Victor Agali made a debut just like Ogbonna Kanu and Azubuike Oliseh whose elder brothers, Nwankwo and Sunday, won gold in 1996.Ivan Zamorano’s Chile, kicked them out in the quarter finals. Chile would later win the bronze.
Argentina had their pound of flesh at Beijing 2008. Dream Team coach, Samson Siasia, had scored against the Argentines at the USA’ 94 Mundial but Eagles lost 2-1. In China, Nigeria lost again, by the same margin.
Siasia returned at Rio’ 2016. Mikel Obi was captain and sponsor of the Dream team. The Boys were abandoned in Atlanta, US and thanks to Delta Airlines managed to land in Manaus a few hours to their opening game against Japan which they won 5-4. The Nigerians got to the semis but lost 2-0 to Germany. Germany picked the silver after succumbing to hosts Brazil, in the final.
It is a good thing to play against Nigeria at the Olympics. Japan did and got a bronze in 1968. Czechoslovakia won gold in 1980.Brazil finished with silver in 1988 and bagged bronze in 1996, just as silver went to Argentina. It was bronze for Chile in 2000, gold for Argentina in 2008 and bronze for Germany in 2016.
