Many good things to write about Godwin Achebe who at 19 in 1959, captained the Nigerian national football team known at the time, as Red Devils. From that moment until 1971, he never missed a penalty kick whether playing for Lagos Railways or ECN.
Achebe who began as a left back before settling as a strong centre back made his national team debut in 1958 when Nigeria defeated Ghana 3-2. A year later, the teenager had the Skipper’s band on his arms under circumstances beyond anyone’s control.
It was against the Black Stars of Ghana, again, in a Roma ’60 Olympics qualifying game. Substantive captain, Dan Anyiam, was ruled ineligible because he had played in England during a coaching course. Vice captain, David Okoroji, was down with injury. The lot fell on Achebe who distinguished himself as Nigera soared to a 3-1 victory at the Liberty Stadium, Ibadan. Ghana won the return leg 4-1.
Achebe later joined Lagos ECN and won the Challenge cup with the Electricians in 1965. Some of his team mates were his brother Frederick, Sebastine Brodericks-Imasuen [Sabara], Paul Hamilton [Wonderboy], Luke Okpala [Jazzman Bucana], goalie Rigogo Inua, Lawrence Omeokachie and Austin Oduah The team maintained a Challenge Cup winning streak every five years , from 1960 to 1970.
In 1970, Achebe was fresh from the Civil war as a Biafran officer.He joined Enugu Rangers as pioneer captain. The team was full of soldiers. Ernest Ufele, Chukwuma ‘It’s a goal’ Igweonu, Nwabueze ‘Bulldozer’ Nwankwo, Dominic ‘Alhaji’ Nwobodo and Okpala. They won their first trophy, the Amachree Cup, defeating a Nigerian Army side that paraded Hamilton.
In 1971, Rangers confronted WNDC Shooting Stars of Ibadan in the grand finale of the Challenge Cup. Venue was Onikan Stadium, Lagos. The Flying Antelopes featured goalkeeper Cyril Okosieme, Ufele, John ‘Wheeler’ Nwosu, Godwin Nwosa,
Achebe,Okpala, Mathias Obianika, Nwobodo, Nwankwo and Shadrach Ajaero. Anyiam was their Manager.
Shooting Stars had Amusa Adisa in goal, captain Dejo Fayemi, Sam Ojebode, Nath Adewole, Niyi Akande and Dauda Adepoju[Mutiu’s father] among others. Their coach was Bayo Alli.
It was a tough match and both teams entertained the crowd. Ibadan had won the Cup four times in the past. The Flying Antelopes were just a year old but boasted of national team captain Achebe, a Challenge Cup winner with ECN in 1965 alongside the duo of Okpala and Okosieme. There was also, Okosieme, who lifted the Cup twice with Stationery Stores.
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Shooting Stars were leading 2-1 and were at the verge of celebrating a fifth Challenge Cup triumph when Rangers earned a penalty in the very last minute. Skipper Achebe stepped out to do the needful. Ibadan fans gave up, they knew it was a goal, for Achebe did not miss penalty kicks.
Achebe versus Adisa. No match. He had beaten better goal tenders like Dodo Ankrah of Ghana, Godwin Omiunu, Rigogo and Peter Fregene. One .two.. three… and radio commentator, Ishola Folorunsho, screamed: ” unbelievable, what happened? Amusa Adisa has performed magic..he stopped Achebe’s kick.”
Amusa Adisa became a national hero thereafter and the Oluyole Warrors continued to produce great goalies in subsequent years, from Zion Ogunfehinmi to Best Ogedegbe and Raymond King.
Achebe did not win the Challenge Cup with Rangers as a player but in 1973 he captained the national team which became Green Eagles from October 1, 1960, to win the All Africa Games gold. In 1977, he was coach when Rangers lifted the Africa Winners Cup in Yaoundé.
That was a feat for Achebe was the first Nigerian coach to lift a continental soccer trophy. When the Eagles won gold in 1973, their coach was Jorge Pena, a Brazilian. Alan Hawkes, from the United Kingdom, took Shooting Stars to Winners Cup glory in 1976.
Other Nigerian coaches who followed Achebe’s continental footstep were Shuaibu Amodu, in 1991 with BCC, Niyi Akande, with Shooting Stars in 1992, Lawrence Akpokona, with Insurance in 1994, Kadiri Ikhana, with Enyimba in 2003 and Okey Emordi, Enyimba, 2004.
Achebe earned 48 caps with playing for Nigeria from 1958 to 1973, scored three goals and won All Africa Games gold. He was pioneer captain of Enugu Rangers and led them to win their only continental trophy, as coach. He retired from the Anambra State Sports Council as an Assistant Director.
Popularly hailed as ‘Ide’, Achebe died in November 2007 and has a stadium named after him in Fegge ,Onitsha. Amusa Adisa rose to the position of Eagles goalkeepers’ trainer.