He is not celebrated in Nigeria just like his dad never showed up from the moment he was born in London. Paul Nwobilo, better known as, Paul McGrath, was at the Italia’90 World Cup, playing for Republic of Ireland, four years before Super Eagles made their debut in 1994.The Irish got as far as the quarter finals before being eliminated by Italy.
Betty McGrath found herself carrying the baby of an Igbo man who was nowhere to be found. It became so much of an embarrassment that the Scottish lady did not know how to break the news to her parents. Betty waited for a month and took the baby to an orphanage in Glasgow for adoption.
Paul grew up to play soccer and did so well for club and country. He was outstanding in the central defence for Manchester United and Ireland. His debut came in 1985 against Italy. What a coincidence. International debut against Italy, World Cup debut in Italy and elimination by Italy. The defender later rose to captain his country and scored eight times in 82 caps.
In 1994, McGrath, was at Aston Villa, manning the rear with Ugo Ehiogu. Two Nigerians who did not play for the Eagles. Ehiogu became the first black to captain an English team in a competitive game, in 1993. That was against Holland at the Under-21 level. Same year, he captained the U-20 team to European victory.
In 1994, another Nigerian, Martin Dahlin, was at the World Cup, with Sweden. His story sounded like McGrath’s. Abandoned by his Nigerian father. The young man did not want anyone to mention his paternal background because Daddy was never there from the beginning.
While Nigeria could not go beyond the Round of 16 at USA’94, Sweden moved into the semi finals and finished fourth overall. It is remarkable that Bulgaria who won the bronze medal were given at 3-0 drubbing by the Eagles during the group games. Finalists, Italy, were almost going home, no thanks to Emma Amuneke’s goal before they rallied round to draw level and win during extra time.
Dahlin was a spectacle to behold. He was voted Footballer of the Year, Sweden in 1993 and played for Malmo before joining German giants, Borussia Dortmund. Other Nigerians would toe the path of McGrath and Dahlin, choosing countries beyond our shores .
Emmanuel Olisadebe, almost single handedly took Poland to the Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup. It was indeed a big deal. From Jasper United Onitsha, he joined Polonia Warszawa in 1997. His stay saw the club winning the Polish Cup for the first time in 54 years. Coach Jerzy Engel did not forget that, even when the Nigerian moved on to Greek side, Panathinaikos.
Olisadebe wanted to play for Nigeria. Manager Jo Bonfrere had no plans for him. Engel had become Manager of the Polish national team. The Poles needed a finisher upfront.President Aleksandr Kwasniewski, was a former Sports minister and fan of Polonia. Manager and President got talking.
History was made on July 18, 2000 when Kwasnieski granted Olisadebe citizenship in 24 hours. This was a process that normally took at least five years. In August, the striker made his debut against Rumania and scored.At the end of the qualifiers, he scored eight goals, taking the Poland to the 2002 World Cup. Bonfrere had been sacked by Nigeria and did not see Korea/Japan.
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Born in Warri, Olisadebe, could not help his adopted country beyond the first round. Nigeria, under Adegboye Onigbinde, failed to advance beyond the group stage. Olisadebe was nominted for the FIFA Footballer of the Year Award in 2001.
In 2006, there were more Nigerians playing for other nations at the World Cup. Oguchi Onyewu was part of the United States team as a central defender. Born in Washington, he had played for the US U-17 and U-20 teams respectively. Graduate of Columbia University, his senior team debut came in 2004.
Onyewu, also known as ‘Gooch’, played for Metz, France and Belgian clubs: La Louviere and Standard Liege respectively before crossing the channel to pitch camp with Newcastle United, England. He was once at Italy’s AC Milan.
He thus joined Ade Coker and Azuka Harbor as Nigerians who wore American colours. Coker, a Lagos boy, from St. Paul’s, Ebute Metta, played club soccer with West Ham, England. Harbor, also a Lagos boy, started with Mandilas before teaming up with Leventis, ‘Iddo Tigers’ then Wema Bank and Lagos NEPA. It was from Enugu Rangers he flew to the US.
Onyewu and Sulley Muntari met at Germany 2006. The latter was a Ghana Black Star. Unfortunately, the Green Eagles did not qualify for the World Cup. Muntari is Hausa, from Kano. He followed the footsteps of another Kano son, Ibrahim Sunday, who not only captained Ashanti Kotoko to win the CAF Champions’ League in 1970 but played in two Nations Cup championships for Ghana.
Togo was full of Nigerians at Germany 2006. Skipper Seyi Adebayor, from Osun State had joined Arsenal from Monaco as Nwankwo Kanu left. There were Djima Oyewole and Adekanbi Olufade too. We must not forget that the Hawks of Togo qualified for the World Cup under coach Stephen Keshi. Too bad, he was sacked before the competition.
At Russia 2008, we have, Jermaine Bamidele Alli, playing for the Three Lions of England. There is also, Kylian Adesunmi Mbappe, the 19-year old whose goal for France downed Peru. Mbappe has a Cameroonian father with Nigerian blood.
