Two of Nigeria’s school boy internationals were honoured by Presidents Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana and Shehu Shagari for exceptional display of talent while they played for the Green Eagles. Johnny Egbuonu was flown to Accra, Henry Nwosu was rewarded in Lagos.
Egbuonu made the Eagles straight from Zixton Grammar School, Ozubulu [in today’s Anambra State but in the then Eastern Region]. It was1961, a year after Nigeria’s independence. Egbuonu and school mate, Mike Nwokedi, were invited to the national camp. Both were discovered during the Phensic Cup for Eastern Nigerian secondary schools.
President Nnamdi Azikiwe was instrumental to the boost sports received while he was in the East as Premier. He followed the Zard Cup for schools in Lagos and established something similar across the Niger in 1956. That was the beginning of Phensic Cup. It threw up other great players like Ernest Ufele, Luke Okpala, Sylvester Campbell, Kofi Oraedo, Stanley Ihekwoaba, Felix Abii, Patrick Ozua and Kenneth Ileka.
Some of these stars made the Nigerian Academicals that included, between 1961 and 1963, Lateef Gomez, Edward Akika and Umpire Kanu. Akika was also an outstanding Track and Field star and won medals for the country.
Nkrumah so admired Egbuonu that in 1963, he invited the footballer to Ghana and laid Red Carpet for the skillful forward. Egbuonu became part of what was known as the Nkrumah All Stars team. Shortly after that ceremony, the player traveled to Germany for further studies ending up with a degree in Veterinary Medicine.
Egbuonu returned to Nigeria in 1976 and joined Enugu Rangers. He was the first University graduate to play for the Flying Antelopes. Patrick Ekeji emerged in 1977 as the second graduate player.
Henry Nwosu appeared from the Blues to win the Africa Nations Cup in 1980. The Lagos student had shown his skills at the Imo ’79 Nigerian Secondary School Games. That was like receiving blessings from his roots. The Eko soccer team left Owerri with a prize.
Barely a year later, Henry Onyemanze Nwosu, stood on the same podium as the superstars: Christain Chukwu, Segun Odegbami, Muda Lawal, Adokiye Amiesimaka, Aloy Atuegbu, Best Ogedegbe, Emma Okala. The eagles had won their first Africa Nations Cup.
And victory earned huge remuneration. The Lagos Student won a Peugeot 504 car. He got a flat in Festac, and to crown it all, received the National Award of Member of the Order of the Niger [MON].That was unprecedented. He was not known with any big club yet Nwosu hit the big one in his very first attempt.
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He was also set for more honours when he joined New Nigerian Bank, Benin. For the first time, Nigeria won the WAFU Cup in 1983.The Bankers retained the trophy in 1984 and were as good as taking it for keeps when the country pulled out of the competition. Nwosu tried professional soccer in Cote D’Ivoire with ASEC, moved to Racing Baffousam, Cameroon and returned to Nigeria to begin a coaching career.
The first student to play for the country was R.A. Wilson, from Kings College, Lagos. It was in 1938 during an inter-colonial match with Ghana[then known as the Gold Coast]. His team mates came from such teams as Police, Marine, P and T and LTC. Skipper was Alfa Bello Fashola.
After Wilson came two Ghanaians who indeed schooled and played in Lagos. Alex Quist and Francis Mensah were at St. Gregory’s College. Quist’s elder brother, Pius, also represented Nigeria and was once Chairman of the NFA. Mensah began as a striker but switched to goalkeeping in later years.
One student who nearly made it in 1949, was Taiwo Gbajabiamila of Methodist High School, Lagos. He trained with the UK Tourists but failed to make the team that flew to Britain.
Luke Okpala, captain of Notre Dame College, Abatete played for Nigeria Academicals between 1961 and 1963. And even captained Onitsha Red Devils. He did not get an Eagles debut until 1964 and that was in Equatorial Guinea. Known as ‘Jazzman Bucana’, the defender won the Challenge Cup in 1965 with ECN and lost the trophy with Rangers in 1971.
