October 10, 1981 ruined all plans Solomon Tunde Bamidele nursed for professional soccer. His dream died at the National Stadium, Lagos before 80,000 fans as Algeria humiliated Nigeria 2-0 in an España ‘ 82 World Cup qualifier.
It was so bad that Bamidele refused to eat for some days. That was also the game that finally retired Captain Christian Chukwu. And for the very first time, Aloy Atuegbu remained on the bench while his elder brother, Andrew, made a last appearance for the Green Eagles.
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Bamidele was still filled with emotions when we met at Sportscity, Lagos eleven years after that clash.
He said : ” I won’t ever forget Algeria. I could not eat for some days after the match. It was like the match never took place at all.”
The left back looked forward to a new lease or life in France. At that time, England was the preferred destination for many Nigerians who followed the footsteps of the first compatriot, Titus Okere. Swindon Town offered Okere a contract in 1953.
” The loss to Algeria cost many of us the opportunity of going abroad to play professional football. I was already making plans to move to France,” Bamidele added. The North Africans won the second leg in Constantine, 2-1.
The first leg disaster hurt everyone. Thompson Usiyen, a a goal machine before he relocated to the US in 1977, was a shadow of himself. Segun Odegbami played his last game for the Eagles and lost the Captain’s band before the second leg. Tunji Banjo was ignored after the loss.
Christian Nwokocha who flew in from Sporting Lisbon had a swollen toe. Otto Gloria blinked a tear when he noticed that and was forced to bring him for Felix Owolabi when the going got really bad. Stephen Keshi stepped in as Chukwu stepped aside. Best Ogedegbe was supposed to be at his best. Sylvanus Okpala saw no silver lining.
Algeria qualified for the World Cup and showed their stuff in Group Two that also had defending European champions, West Germany, Chile and Austria. The Desert Foxes belittled the German Machine 2-1 in Gijon, thanks to Lakhdar Beloumi and Rabah Madjer.
The North Africans would have been the first from Africa to make the second round of the World Cup if Germany and Austria did not play the worst game ever seen at the Mundial. The conspiracy sent out Algeria even as the three teams finished with four points each. Chile had no hope.
Many of the Algerian players who knocked out Nigeria enjoyed professional life in France, something they did not know eluded Bamidele. Faouzi Mansouri was at Montpellier, Tedj Ben Saoula played for Le Havre, Noureddine Kourichi joined Lille and Salah Asad moved to Mulhouse.
Cameroon also qualified for the World Cup alongside Algeria. Some of their stars were in the French league before and after the competition. Jean- Pierre Tokoto was all over, from Marseille to Bordeaux to PSG. Roger Milla wandered to Monaco, Bastia and St. Etienne.
Paul Bahoken played for Cannes and his son, Stephane, grew to join the French Under-20 team before switching to the Indomitable Lions. Antoine Bell, Theophile Abega and Gregoire Mbida, all played for top French teams.
Bamidele missed France but some of his Eagles’ mates forged ahead. Keshi eventually made it to France and rose to captain Strasbourg. The younger generation continued from where Big Boss stopped. Victor Ikpeba was at Monaco, Jay Jay Okocha picked jersey number 10 at PSG and Vincent Enyeama dazzled at Lille.
Okey Isima journeyed to Portugal, following the footsteps of Nwokocha. He changed clubs from de Beleness, Uniao to Vitoria SC. Isima scored for Nigeria in the 2-1 loss at away. Okpala also played in Portugal for Maritimo Funchal.
Born on May 13, 1953, Bamidele attended Government Secondary School, Jos before proceeding to Bauchi College of Arts and Science (BACAS). He was discovered playing for Taraba Stars. The defender also played for Raccah Rovers and Shooting Stars.
His first time in Eagles’ camp was in 1975 and he was there with Haruna Garba of Bauchi Wunti. One good thing about the duo was that they spoke very good English. Garba later studied Accountancy at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Garba is best remembered for his performance at the Lagos ’73 First National Sports Festival. His team, Yankari Bulls of North-Eastern State lost 6-0 to Lagos but he was voted Man-of-the match by journalists. Soccer also took him to ABU Workers, ABM and Gombe Water Board.
Bamidele was at the Ghana ’78 African Nations Cup where the Eagles won a second bronze medal. Other defenders in that squad were : Chukwu, Godwin Odiye, Owolabi, Ignatius Ilechukwu, Nnamdi Anyafo, Kadiri Ikhana and the Ghanaian, Annas Ahmed.
One name many may not remember is Godwin Efejukwu. He was reserve goalie. Emma Okala manned the post. There was also Eugene Ohuabunwa who had moved to Spartans of Owerri from Sharks of Port Harcourt in 1976.
Bamidele and Nigeria improved on the Ghana ’78 bronze when the Green Eagles won gold at the 1980 Nations Cup. They defeated Algeria 3-0. The same Desert Foxes came back to Lagos in 1981 to punish the African champions.
The Eagles defender was one of the Ogbomosho players who grew up in Jos and played for Nigeria. That was the story of left winger Layiwola Olagbemiro. Another popular Ogbomosho man, Ganiyu Salami, won the 1965 African Nations Cup with Ghana. He also played for Nigeria.
Bamidele later went into coaching. When we met in 1992, he was coach of Fourth Division side, Exide Ibadan. Five years later he died, leaving behind his wife Funmi and children.
