![Fwd: SPORTS FLAKES. THE NEXT EDITION. FRIDAY V victoria ibanga to me, chinwe 6 hours agoDetails Pls publish. > > SPORTS FLAKES : OKALA : CONQUEROR AND EMPEROR OF CAMEROUN Byline: Emeka Obasi Category: SPORTS Picture: Emeka Obasi > > Camerounians will live to remember Emmanuel Anthony Oguejiofo Okala as one goalkeeper that made them cry severally and remained shoulders above their soccer teams. Only once did the legend lose to Cameroun and it was after full and extra time. Before that stain, he tormented the Indomitable Lions in Yaoundé, stopped Canon Sportif in Lagos and dismissed Tonnerre Kalara in Calabar. > > Okala's first encounter with the Indomitable Lions was in a 1974 Yaoundé friendly. The Green Eagles defeated their hosts 1-0. Other members of the Nigerian squad included Harrison Mecha, Nathaniel Adewale, Christian Chukwu, Idowu Otubusin, Musa, Philip Boamah, Kenneth Olayombo and Mohammed Lawal. The rest were John Nwadioha, Haruna Ilerika and substitutes, Mike Okotie, Jossy Dombraye and Yakubu Mambo. > > The Camerounian strike force of Roger Milla, Eugene Ekoule, Djombi, and Ama found it most difficult to put the ball past Okala. Even when Doumbe Leah, Bahoken and Machongo joined the attack from the rear, the Nigerian keeper was unbeatable. The introduction of Gregoire Arantes Mbida made no difference. The only goal conceded was by Keeper Mballa. > > At the Algiers '78 All Africa Games, the Lions were in the same Group B with Eagles. Okala was in goal again and the Camerounians needed a win to qualify for the semi-finals. They remembered that Nigeria were defending champions and Okala was in the team that won gold at the Lagos '73 All Africa Games. The game ended goalless. Nigeria later advanced to the grand finale losing narrowly to hosts Algeria. > > The 1978 encounter came a year after Okala had turned Camerounians into day dreamers. On April 16, 1977, the first international match at the new Calabar Stadium was between Tonnerre Kalara of Yaoundé and Enugu Rangers. Tonnerre had won the first Africa Winners Cup in 1975 but lost it to Shooting Stars, Ibadan in 1976. They came with Roger Milla. The Flying Antelopes gave them a 5-1 drubbing as Okala's face seemed to put Milla in a deep blue funk. > > Later in the year, another Yaoundé side, Canon Sportif, confronted Rangers in the finals of the third Africa Winners Cup. That was the top club in Cameroun at the time and had won the Africa Cup for Champion Clubs [today's CAF Champions' League] in 1971. > > The first leg was decided in Lagos. Rangers were merciless, trouncing the visitors 4-1. Their goalkeeper was Thomas Nkono. He was forced to visit the net so often as his defence succumbed to the fire power of the Flying Antelopes. With Sam Onyeaka, Nwachukwu Onyekwelu, Chimezie Ngadi, Aloy Atuegbu and Emma Merenini in top shape, Okala had little to worry about. > > The return leg at the Stade Omnisport, Yaoundé was billed for December 4, 1977. Canon were so sure the first leg advantage would be erased. After all, they were not Tonnerre who could not cancel the same margin when they fell to Shooting Stars in 1976. Canon meant firepower, yes, it was 'Canon Kpakum'.They apparently did not know that Rangers had many ex -Biafran soldiers. Coach Godwin Achebe, the 'Ide' himself was even an Instructor at the Biafran School of Infantry. > > Canon started well and were leading with a goal when the referee called off the match. There was down pour, the field was turning into a swimming pool. The fans were not happy that the rain gave the visitors a breather. The match officials knew that if they allowed the game to continue, it could only pass for a water polo match. Both teams were asked to come back in 24 hours. > > The hosts still bubbled with confidence. Canon had scored 18 goals in six matches on the way to the finals. They gained a walk over against Red Star of Congo in the first round. Rangers had played eight games and could boast of nine goals. Canon did not score less than two goals in Yaoundé. They defeated SC Bissau 7-1, silenced Kadiogo 4-1 and hit El Itihad 2-0. > > Achebe stuck to his formation of Okala in goal with Charles Adimora, Nnamdi Anyafo, Vincent Chika, Christian Chukwu and Ignatius Ilechukwu as defenders. In the mid field, he opted for Aloy Atuegbu, Christian Madu and Ogidi Ibeabuchi. Sam Onyeaka and Nwachukwu Onyekwelu were attacking. Francis Nwosu later came in for Chika while Emma Merenini replaced Onyeaka. > > Canon , founded, in 1930 were 40 years older than Rangers. The opposition could not escape defeat, so the Camerounians thought. Onyekwelu had scored in the Lagos first leg. Known as 'Igariga' he was huge and powerful. While the hosts were settling down, the bulky attacker fired a shot from close to the center circle. Nkono did not see it. He heard his net shake. Canon got one goal too. > > Then it became tough. Okala refused to be beaten. Mbida tried his best. Jeane Manga Onguene put in everything. The goals were denied by the giant between the Flying Antelopes' post. Theophile Abega, the 'Doctor' could not sedate Okala. They found him a hard nut to crack. Yaoundé fans thought there must be something about the Nigerian keeper. The match ended 1-1, Rangers lifted the Cup. > > Canon could not bear that loss. They claimed that Rangers would not have won if there was no Okala. It became a big issue. Cameounians swore that Okala was a Camerounian who chose to play in Nigeria and they were ready to bring him back to their country to man the posts.. > > Blaming them was not the best way out. There are Okalas in Cameroun. The first Foreign Minister of Independent Cameroun was Charles Rene-Guy Okala. He was Ahmadu Ahidjo's man and best remembered as the man who stood up at the United Nations in 1961 to speak against British Northern Cameroun [Adamawa Province] joining Nigeria. Like Emma Okala, Charles Okala was a Roman Catholic. > > His daughter, Nicole Okala Bilai, is the first Camerounian woman to lead a political party and she is today, a Senator. The lady has gone round jobs, from acting to modeling. Like Emma Okala , she was born in May. > > Okala is also the name of a town in Cameroun. It is in the Centre Region. One of their famous footballers, Elie Onana Eloundou was born there. There was also President of that country's Table Tennis Federation, a man known as D. Okala. Many were convinced that the man who punished Canon was indeed one of them, the defeat was that painful. > > Okala returned to Yaoundé with Rangers in 1978. It was the semi finals of the prestige Africa Cup of Champion Clubs and foes were Canon. It ended goalless in the Lagos first leg. In Yaoundé there was heavy rain again but the referee refused to stop the match, another barren draw. Both teams went into penalty kicks. Canon won 6-5. That was the only time the Camerounians enjoyed a better hand. > > With Okala out of the way, Canon were unstoppable. They won the CAF Champions League in 1978, lifted the Africa Winners Cup in 1979 and grabbed the CAF Champions League again in 1980. > > Okala must have had a good laugh. One of his younger brothers is Charles, but did not last long in soccer as a goalie. Patrick was going to step into his brother's shoes. He played in the grand finale of the Cote D'Ivoire '84 Africa Nations Cup. Nigeria lost 3-1 to Cameroun. At last Milla and Abega had beaten Okala but not Emmanuel. In 1988 and again in 2000, the Indomitable Lions defeated Eagles to win the Nations Cup. > > Emma Okala put Cameroun in his gloves all through his playing career. He was voted African Footballer of the Year by African Sports Journalists Union in 1978. Okala conquered Cameroun. When he quit, Nkono heaved a whiff of fresh air and attended three World Cups.](https://www.nextedition.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/download-1.jpeg)
Psychology is just one weapon that can crush Ghana Black Stars in the crucial World Cup play off against Super Eagles. Segun Odegbami shook Ghana in 1978. They still dread him in Accra.
Should Odegbami join the Eagles on the trip to the Ghanaian capital, that will be a psychological boost. Black Stars are down but against Nigeria in the field of play, they are ready to die to cancel the shame of the Cameroon 2021 African Nations Cup.
It is so easy to weigh Ghana down mentally. Members of the Supporters Club should drop their suitcases and go for Ghana Must Go (GMG) bags. Carrying such bags to Accra will send a message that Black Stars should forget the World Cup ticket.
The Supporters Club should rehearse Victor Uwaifo’s track, ‘Guitar Boy’. It is another weapon that will jar the Black Stars. Uwaifo was Bini, Austin Eguavoen hails from Benin. This is remarkable.
The Nigerian contingent will touch down at the Kotoka International Airport. The airport is named after Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka, Ghana’s Chief of Defence Staff in 1967.
In April 1967, Lt. Samuel Benjamin Arthur led Ghana’s second military coup which was codenamed ‘Operation Guitar Boy’. The subalterns who organised the mutiny chose the name from Uwaifo’s track which was also popular in the country at the time.
Kotoka and his guard were gunned down at the spot where Kotoka Airport stands today. Arthur and Lt. Moses Yeboah were sentenced to death and faced firing squad at Labadi Beach. Second Lieutenant Ebenezer Osei- Poku was lucky to be sent to jail.
Ghanaian leader, Gen. Arthur Ankrah banned Uwaifo’s Guitar Boy. What an irony that Ankrah was Ga. The Ga of Ghana trace their origins to Benin. They migrated from there during the reign of Oba Udegbedo ( 1299-1334).
Eguavoen should go to the Oba of Benin for royal blessings before the trip to Accra. Playing Uwaifo’s Guitar Boy will be remarkable, for Uwaifo was also a sportsman. The late music maestro won silver in High Jump at the 1961 All Nigeria Athletics Championships.
The Bini say, ‘Oba no dey go transfer’. The present Oba could decide to watch the game. He was an Ambassador before becoming a king.
His dad, Oba Erediuwa, then known as Prince Solomon Akenzua, was on the Nigerian delegation to the peace talks between Nigeria and Biafra, at Peduase Lodge, Aburi in 1967. The man who presided was Gen. Ankrah.
If I had my way, Odegbami will be the face of the Super Eagles. He should board same flight with the team, wear same tracksuits but with ‘Mathematical’ boldly written on his own.
Mathematical is more popular than Odegbami in Accra. They have not forgotten the Ghana ’78 African Nations Cup.
The Black Stars and the Green Eagles were drawn in the same Accra Group A, alongside Zambia and Burkina Faso (Upper Volta). Ghana defeated Zambia 2-1. Nigeria beat Upper Volta 4-2.
Odegbami scored twice to become the first to score a brace at Ghana ’78. Two other players, George Alhassan(Ghana) and Ben Aziza (Tunisia) equalled that later. The Black Stars were not comfortable with Mathematical.
Nigeria and Ghana met in the next game. Odegbami dazzled on the right wing and in 33 minutes his goal put Nigeria ahead. The 60, 000 crowd was quiet. The Black Stars struggled until14 minutes to time when Willie Klutse saved them with the equaliser.
Coach Fred Osam- Duodu could not neutralise rampaging Mathematical. That was a strong Black Stars squad of Opoku Afriyie, Karim Abdulrazak, George Alhassan, Mohammed Polo Ahmed, Skipper Awule Quaye, James Kuuku Dadzie, Adolf Armah and keeper Joseph Carr.
Four of them, Abdulrazak, Polo, Dadzie and Armah made CAF Team of the Tournament. Odegbami was the only Nigerian picked. Emma Okala, Christian Chukwu and Adokiye Amiesimaka were not.
The Black Stars ended the championships as champions. Nigeria lost to Uganda in the semi finals to the relief of Ghanaians because they did not want to see the Green Eagles in the grand finale against the hosts.
Odegbami shared the Golden Boot with the duo of Afriyie and Phillip Omondi of Uganda. Each of them scored three goals. Mathematical could have scored more if Tunisia did not abandon the third place match with Nigeria in the 42nd minute.
Afriyie scored only once, in the opening match against Zambia, before scoring the two goals that beat Uganda in the final. Tunisia’s withdrawal did not help Odegbami but he has remained a superstar in Ghana.
I frequented Ghana with ‘Big Sheg’ between 2000 and 2003. He worked out a competition between Nigeria and Ghana Academicals. The Nigerians were sponsored by Shell Petroleum while Volta Aluminium Company sponsored Ghana.
Whenever Odegbami stepped into the Accra Stadium, shouts of ‘ Mathematical, Mathematical’ filled the air. From Kata International Hotel, where fellow Shooting Star, Sam Kofi Asante was waiting, to La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, where we met ex- Green Eagle, John Orlando, all I could hear was ‘ Mathematical’.
This man is still very much around. I am sure his presence in Accra will be significant. Even when the Gen. Mohammed Buhari coup of December 1983 got Odegbami holed up in Ghana with Phillip Boamah, his admirers were still screaming ‘ Mathematical’ not knowing that the man had run out of cash.
In continuation of the Psychological war, the Super Eagles could Lodge at Mensvic Grand Hotel. It is on Second Lagos Avenue, in the East Legon part of Accra. I advise journalists to try Ange Hill Hotel also around Lagos Avenue.
One arm of the Supporters Club should move into Airport West Hotel. The location is Augustus Akiwumi Road, Accra. That road also has something to do with Lagos.
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Justice Augustus Omolade Akinwumi was a Lagosian who became the Second Speaker of the Ghanaian parliament in 1958. He studied in the UK before settling in Accra.
Another band of the Supporters Club should check into La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Labadi. One Ghanaian source whispered to me that the hotel was built with Nigerian oil money.
The story is that a Nigerian dictator who was looking for international support, gifted the wife of a Ghanaian leader more than enough Petro dollars which she used to build the hotel. When tongues started to wag, Madam First Lady sold the hotel.
The supporters are not short of songs. I could teach them some incantations to taunt Black Stars.
When you sing: ‘Alimao Alimao, Shankara Shankara’, the players will understand. It was what they got when they approached a voodoo priestess to help them win a match. They recited it all around Labadi Beach but still lost the game.
I remember that ex- Black Stars keeper, Richard Kingston was embarrassed when his wife came to confess in a Lagos church that she bewitched her husband.
After all these, the Eagles should enter the field bubbling with confidence. To beat the Black Stars in Accra and again in Abuja, is a task that must be done.
