Thompson Ovehemen Usiyen was so hot that Eagles coach, Father Tiko, handed over the top striker spot to him in 1976 pushing Segun Odegbami to the right wing.
In August 1977, the marksman flew to the United States for further studies putting soccer aside. Many were shocked that such a promising star could dump the game so early.
Usiyen faced his books, got a degree, went back to football and settled down as a Tax consultant in California. He also had time for the game running a soccer clinic. America had need for the Nigerian and brought him to the country during the FIFA Under -20 Youth Championships, Nigeria ’99.
The Americans employed him as Liaison Officer. Many Nigerians did not know that their former star was back home but in a different capacity.
Well the last time Usiyen flew in from the United States to play for Nigeria ended in a monumental disaster. It was in a 1981 game with Algeria for a ticket to the Espana ’82 World Cup. The Eagles lost 2-0 in Lagos. No one talked about recalling Tommy to the squad.
Usiyen won Africa Nations Cup bronze with the Eagles in 1976 but missed the Montreal ’76 Olympic Games due to African boycott. He also bagged a silver medal at the Algiers ’78 Third All Africa Games. Godwin Odiye left for America after the fiesta. Nigeria could not qualify for the Argentina ’78 World Cup and not playing in the Mundial remains Usiyen’s greatest regret.
He did play some soccer in the United States though excelling in the colours of San Diego Sockers in the Indoor Soccer League. Usiyen ended the 1992 season as the Most Valuable Player [MVP]. That meant a lot for he did not have a rewarding club career in his home country. From Ndoro United Effurun, he joined Asaba Textile Mills [Asabatex]. Those clubs were not highly rated.
Some Nigerian star players had relocated to the US before Usiyen for further studies and he was glad to join the Yankee train. Dominic Ezeani and Keneth Ilodigwe moved in 1974 from Enugu Rangers. Obed Ariri, Nnamdi Egbukichi and Christian Nwokocha left from Vasco Da Gama.
Sunday Izevbigie and Damian Ogunsuyi joined from Insurance. Then came the Lagos ‘crowd’ of Tunde Balogun, Yomi Bamiro and Muyiwa Sanya.
From Jets, Andrew Atuegbu also made it as well as another Flying Antelope, Damian Odo.
The Americans could have tried to wipe out Usiyen’s Mundial regrets by giving him an opportunity to be part of a lesser World Cup, the World Youth Championships. The experience was all he got. No laurels went to the Americans. The Nigerian hosts were knocked out in the quarter finals. That turned out good for Spain who won their first World FIFA title.
Japan grabbed silver and Mali happily celebrated their bronze.
The first Nigerian to play for the US senior national soccer team was Ade Coker who left West Ham, England to play across the Atlantic. The next was Azuka Habour, from Enugu Rangers. He played at the 1992 Inter Continental Cup, in Saudi Arabia. Oguchi Onyewu was part of the Germany 2006 World Cup team.
Maurice Edu began the trend of Nigerians playing for the United States against Nigeria.
His parents, Maurice and Molly, raised him in California. At the Beijing 2008 Olympics, both countries met in Group B. A win guaranteed next round qualification. The Dream Team led 2-0 until the 88th minute when Edu earned a penalty for the Americans two minutes to time. It ended 2-1.
Funmilayo Kemi Jimoh, competing for the US, qualified for the finals of the women’s Long Jump in Beijing. She was eyeing a medal just like Blessing Okagbare. Both would have gone home empty handed but the Nigerian was lucky with the bronze after one of the finalists tested positive to performance enhancing drugs.
At the First World Youth Olympics at the Bishan Stadium, Singapore, Olivia Ekpone ran against Nigeria’s Florence Nkeiruka Nwakwe. The American held on to the bronze medal after Nwakwe had picked the 200 metres gold. Ekpone later switched allegiance to Nigeria at the senior level and was ready for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Nigerian officials failed to send her a ticket to Rio. She dumped the country and went back to the Americans.
In 2012 two Nigerians faced Nigeria in different championships and ended up with the gold medal. Chioma Grace Ubobagu played for the United States Under- 20 female soccer team at the Germany 2012 FIFA Championships. She came in the second half against the Falconets who lost 2-0 in that last four game. The young woman scored once in the entire competition. It was in the quarter finals against North Korea which ensured they tackled Falconets in the semis.
Andre Tyler Iguodala and the US basketball team took Nigeria to the cleaners at the London 2012 Olympics. Scores stood at 156-73. Carmelo Anthony of the US set a scoring record of 37 points. In Olympic history that was the first time such points would be earned by the winning team. And Team USA set another record of making 29 three-point shots. Iguodala hit a three pointer against D’Tigers.
Nnemkadi Ogwumike came with the United States senior women’s basketball team against D’Tigress at the FIBA World Cup, Tenerife 2018.
The Nigerian ladies were heroic debutants. They qualified for the quarter finals. Ogwumike and America beat them 71-40. Her sister, Chiney, played for the United States at the Shenzhen 2100 Universiade. Two other sisters, Chisomand Erinma, are equally good in the sport.
Ogwumike’s parents, Peter and Ify, are full blooded Nigerians and Nneka remains a winner.
She was the Women’s National Basketball Association [WNBA] Most Valuable Player in 2016. The lass won the Under -19 FIBA World Championships, Bangkok 2009 and was a senior world champion with the US at Turkey 2014.
It is obvious that while some Nigerian youngsters went into crime across the United States, many are doing great for the US in the field of sports and other areas. Funny that one Gerald Lagos played against Nigeria at the Saudi ’89 World Youth Championships. The Flying Eagles beat USA 2-1 in the semi finals after performing the Miracle of Dammam on the Soviets.
