Japan defeated Nigeria 3-1 at the Mexico ’68 Olympic Games in what was the Green Eagles first global competition. Sam Garba Okoye scored the lone goal and the Japs advanced to win the bronze medal. This began the Naija luck.
Naija luck simply means that at least one of the teams that met Nigeria in the soccer event of the Olympics must win a medal. Japan did not only win bronze in 1968, Kunishige Kamamoto who earned a hattrick against the Eagles finished as the top scorer with seven goals.
Okoye’s goal in the 33rd minute signaled the beginning of Nigeria’s quest for Olympic gold. It eventually came in 1996. It is remarkable that the Nigerians have won gold, silver and bronze at the Olympics. Sam Garba remains the first from the country to score in a global soccer competition.
Three other members of the Eagles squad also scored. Kenneth Olayombo got a brace in the 3-3 draw with Brazil. Peter Anieke scored one. Segun Olumodeji did too but on the wrong side. His own goal have the Samba Boys a second goal.
The story of Garba and the Mexico Olympics is interesting. An Enugu boy who grew up in Jos, he was forced to flee during the pogrom of 1966. The footballer arrived Lagos with buddies Tony Igwe and Peter Anieke to play for Plateau in the 1966 Challenge Cup final.
Their opponents, Ibadan Lions won the Cup without kicking a ball. The Jos team could not raise a a full team because over 50 recent of the players hailed from Eastern Nigeria and thought more of their lives than soccer. Anieke from the Mid-West and Igwe stayed behind in Lagos.
In 1968, they were lucky to make the Nigerian team to Mexico while their friend, Mathew Atuegbu (Mogambo) was in Biafra as a combatant with his siblings Nicholas (Attila the Hun) and Andrew. Many other Jos Boys like Chukwuma Igweonu (It’s aGoal),Nwabueze Nwankwo (Bulldozer) and Sam Onyeaka (Achimota) were also in the battle field.
The Mexico ’68 team had another Mid-Westerner, Sam Opone (Zagalo) as captain. Austin Ofuokwu, an Igbo from the same Region made it. Others were Peter Fregene, Yakubu Bauchi, Duro Adigun, Willy Andrews, Fred Aryee (Baba Ali), Sebastine Brodericks (Sabara), Paul Hamilton (Wonder Boy)and Muyiwa Oshode.
The rest included Joe Aghoghovbia, Mohammed Lawal, Clement Obojememe and Ganiyu Salami (Salakwa). Coach Joseph Ember was assisted by Teslim (Thunder) Balogun after Eto Amechina, an Igbo whose team Stationery Stores Lagos, provided the bulk of the team.
At the end of the war in 1970, Okoye did not relocate to the East. He found his way back to Jos, looking for his friends. He found them. Mathew Atuegbu was back, Ismaila Mabo, Layiwola Olagbemiro, Sule Kekere, Gabriel Babalola Olugbodi. They set up a new club and named it Mighty Jets of Jos.
Okoye played his last match for the Green Eagles on April 18, 1971 against Teranga Lions of Senegal in Dakar. Nigeria lost 2-1 and could not qualify for the Munich ‘ 72 Olympics. That did not stop the Naija luck. It continued to manifest in 1980.
At Moscow ’80, the Eagles, captained by another Jos Boy, Segun Odegbami were kicked out in the first round. They played a 1-1 draw with Czechoslovakia in their group. The East Europeans went ahead to win the gold medal.
Eight years later, Brazil hammered Nigeria 4-0 at the Seoul Games. Led by Sylvanus Okpala (Quicksilver), the Eagles were a sorry sight and failed to win win a match and again were sent home after the group matches. The Brazilians picked silver at the end.
Atlanta ’96 yielded gold during the magical captaincy of Nwankwo Many(Papilo) and the Dream Team. Argentina and Brazil embraced the lesser medals. Silver came in at Beijing 2008. Argentina got their revenge. Bronze was achieved at Rio ‘2016. Germany who beat Nigeria in the semis settled for silver in the final.
Garba Okoye took Nigeria by storm in 1965 when he led the Academicals to beat Ghana home and away. As usual, his friends, Anieke and Igwe were there. The trio came from Academy Institute of Commerce Jos. Muyiwa Oshode, made the team from Ahmadiyya College, Lagos.
The Jos Boys knew themselves so well, right from St. Theresa’s Primary School. Okoye was born on December 22, 1947. Igwe was also born in December but on the 24th, 1945 in Barkin Ladi. In Jos he was known as ‘Allah Dey’. In Lagos, Igwe became ‘World Two’. Sam Onyeaka said ‘Igwe was known for riding a sports bicycle’.
It was also in 1965 that Okoye earned his first Green Eagles cap. It ended 4-1 against hosts Gabon on August 30. However popularity blossomed with Mighty Jets who won the National League in 1972, lost in two Challenge Cup finals in 1972,1974 and lost in the finals of the the Lagos ’73 First National Sports Festival.
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Jets caused the Challenge Cup grand finale to be replayed for the first time in 1972. And for the first time it was moved out of Lagos. Viper’s of Benin were leading 2-0, with five minutes left. Okoye struck. He reduced the tally and as the game dragged into long dying minutes, the master dribbler equalised.
Vipers supporters shouted blue murder. Some said it was Okoye’s hand that got the second goal. Referee Sunny Badru was suspended and in the replay at the Liberty Stadium, Sebastine Brodericks marched in from the bench in the 75th minute to score the winner for Vipers. It ended 3-2.
Jets representing Benue Plateau State were beaten 1-0 by East Central State Spartans in the final of the First National Sports Festival. Emma Okala saved a penalty for the victors. Rangers defeated Jets 2-0 in the final of the 1974 Challenge Cup. Kenneth Ilodigwe and Ogidi Ibeabuchi were on target.
Those finals were played by star studded Jets squads. In 1972, they had Uba Junior, Ali Lime and Bayo Adenuga. In 1974, there were Jide Dina, Kelechi Emeteole (Caterpillar), Loatis Boateng and Duro Atuma.
Sam Garba Okoye was called 17 times by Nigeria and scored five goals. Unfortunately, he died in a motor accident, July 31, 1978 on the Lafia-Akwanga Highway. That ended a beautiful chapter in the History of soccer garnished on the Jos Plateau.
Nothing has been heard of another Okoye and this is worrisome for Jos is known for producing soccer families. It began with the three Dankaro Brothers, John, Sunday and David who played for ATMN Tin Miners of Jos and Highlanders respectively.
Left back, John Dankaro, was a member of the National team, UK Tourists of 1949. While in Jos his team mates were Richard Atuegbu, Vincent Nzeli, Jonathan Asanji, Mike Tetteh, Joseph Jawfu, John Lazari, Addy, Nzeribe and Ojo.
Richard Atuegbu was the father of the famous Atuegbu Five: Mathew, Nicholas, Andrew, Aloysius and Fidelis. While father played for Tin Miners, Mathew, old boy of St. Morumba College, started with Young Planners, moved to PWD, joined Highlanders, became a pioneer Mighty Jet before landing in Enugu Rangers.
Nicholas, left St. John’s College, Jos, played for Jets, Rangers and Asabatex. Andrew an ex-student of St. Joseph’s College, Vom was a Jet all through and debuted for Nigeria in the 3-2 defeat of Zambia in 1973. Aloy and Fidelis played for Black Stars, Jos. Aloy joined Jets in 1971 and his Eagles debut came in 1974 against Cote D’Ivoire who went down 2-0 in Lagos.
Fidelis was sent to the East by their father. From Holy Ghost Juniorate, Ihiala to Christ the King College, Onitsha, he teamed up with Standard of Jos.
Tony Igwe relocated to America a few years after winning All AfricaGames gold with Nigeria in 1973. His son, Amechi played for the United States. Another son, Kelechi also played soccer. Chioma, a girl is into sports.
Peter Anieke’s brother, Isaac was into the game just like Ismaila Mabo’s siblings, Umar and Tijani. Mabo’s children, Jamilu and Najib
tapped ball too. Layiwola Olagbemiro produced Layinka and Michael. Sule Kekere gave birth to Nasiru.
Okoye’s first club was Eleven Rangers of Jos. Also there was Anieke. In 1963, they won the Jos Amateur Football Association ( JAFA) Cup, beating Sule Kekere’s Sea Never Dry. Thereafter, the Master dribbler signed for Federal United with Kekere and Olagbemiro. You could not see him in the field without his trademark white kerchief tied around the head.