There is something special about Banjul, veteran cricketer Ewa Henshaw flaunts this all over the place. He made a mark in the Gambia 34 years ago just like Akwa United made a point in the Confederation Cup recently.
As captain of the Nigerian national cricket team, Henshaw, hit 167 Runs against Gambia in the West Africa Cricket Championships, 1984. That feat is like scoring a double hat-trick in soccer. He was the first from his country to do that. Henshaw was in the national team from 1969 to 1988 and captained the team between 1983 and 1987.
When I met him in Lagos in 1991, he said his only regret was not being a footballer because that Banjul bang would have been more rewarding monetarily.”Name does not pay the bill”, he quipped.
Akwa United had no life in 1991 but the players got their full bonus by defeating Gambian side Hawks at away in the CAF Confederations Cup. After losing 2-1 to the Gambians in Uyo, the Federation Cup champions walloped their hosts 2-0 in the return leg.
At the end of the first leg, I sent a an SMS to Akwa United Chairman, Etubom Paul Bassey, assuring him of victory in the Gambia. I reminded him that Henshaw created a record there.
I also told Bassey that two other Nigerian teams , Bendel Insurance of Benin and Heartland, Owerri [then known as Iwuanyanwu Nationale] did it in the past winning at away after losing the home leg . I am glad my optimism paid.
Insurance and Akwa United almost followed the same part. In 1980, the Benin side lost 2-1 at home to Gor Mahia of Kenya in the CAF Champions League. Two weeks later, the Insurers shocked their opponents 3-2 in Nairobi to qualify for the quarter finals.
They suffered another humiliation at home in the hands of Canon Sportif, Cameroon. After a barren quarter finals first leg in Yaounde, Insurance fell 4-2 in Benin. The Cameroonians had a remarkable away record winning all but one of their games outside.
Canon beat Primeiro Augusto, Angola 4-3 in the first round, punished Silures of Burkina Faso in the second and demolished AS Bilima of Congo Democratic Republic in the finals. Their only defeat was in the quarter final ,to Algeria’s Mouloudia.
In the 1979 Africa Winners Cup, Bendel acted funny in the quarter final. After breezing past Sotema of Madagascar 2-0 in Antananarivo, they suffered a 2-0 defeat in the second leg and had to rely on 6-5 penalties to move ahead. They were eliminated by Canon Sportif in the semis.
That almost happened to Akwa United in their Confederation Cup debut two years ago. A 1-0 first leg advantage in Congo Democratic Republic turned sour in Uyo when the visitors enjoyed a 1-0 victory and went ahead to win on penalties.
It was that experience they took to the Gambia but did not have to rely on penalties. Cyril Olisema’s brace told the story. The Promise Keepers lived up to Victor Mbaoma’s pledge and returned with a 3-2 boost.
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Heartland had done it to Racing Baffousam of Cameroon in the second round of the 1994 CAF Champion’s League. The Central Africans had become more than a pain in the neck. They came to Owerri and made a mess of their hosts.
Tony Nwigwe began the day on a good note with a goal in the 12th minute. It took Racing just seven minutes to draw level through their Sierra Leonean import, Moussa Kallon. He struck again in the 25th. Iwuanyanwu were lost and never recovered. It ended 2-1.
All hope was lost,yes, many compatriots thought the Naze Warriors were finished. If with such high caliber players like Isaac Semitoje, Mike Onyemachara, Goddy Eke, Benjamin Sellas, Ishaya Jatau, Karibe Ojigwe, Julius Akpele, James Enuagwuna and Ating Ating, they could not win the first leg, it would be mission impossible.
In Baffousam, Hearland[Iwuanyanwu] fought like Napoleon. Racing met their waterloo. Goals reigned. The hosts scored thrice to win 3-2. Aggregate scores favoured the Owerri side who won 4-3.
Unfortunately, Heartland ran into bad weather in the quarter finals against Esperance of Tunisia. A 3-0 loss was compounded by a plane crash involving Oriental airlines in Algeria, on their way back. Two players, keeper Uche Ikeogu and defender Aimuanmwosa lost their lives.
The pilot, co-pilot and an air hostess also perished. One of the lucky survivors was journalist, Adebanji Ola, who today is Communications manager of Arik Air. Coach Christian Chukwu escaped death with other members of the team. The second leg in Owerri ended 1-1.