Senator Anyim Pius Anyim displayed in-depth knowledge of Nigerian soccer in a chat with me recently expressing confidence in the Super Eagles and their Manager, Austin Eguavoen to do well at the Cameroon 2021 African Nations Cup.
Anyim picked on the lucky number 12 to make very salient points that got me wondering how a man who is busy pursuing his dream of becoming Nigeria’s president in 2023 made out time to do calculator permutations on his phone.
He said :”I am follower of the Eagles, from Green to Super. Something tells me that this present team will not come back from Cameroon empty handed. That feeling came following the appointment of Austin Eguavoen as interim manager on December 12, 2021.”
I did not see what that had to do with excelling at the African Nations Cup until Anyim began to do arithmetic and build logic with 12 as a number.
“You are into sports,” the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) reminded me. “You know, Eguavoen’s best record as a coach came on July 12, 2009 when he led Enyimba to their second FA Cup victory.
“I am glad he has led Nigeria to Cameroon. Don’t forget that on December 12, 1976, Shooting Stars won our first continental club trophy, the African Winners Cup. They did it in Yaounde after defeating Tonnerre Kalara 4-2 aggregate.”
Common, I love challenge. Anyim really got me working. All he said about Eguavoen is true. The luck of 12 is also correct.
Records show that while 12 seems to favour Eguavoen, it also brought luck to Nigeria. Enyimba won the ever so elusive CAF Champions League trophy on December 12, 2003. The Elephants became the first team to retain the trophy. That happened on December 12, 2004.
Cameroon is also a good ground for Nigeria to win African trophies. Shooting Stars did it in 1976. Enugu Rangers achieved the same when they lifted the African Winners Cup in 1977. The Flying Antelopes hammered Canon Sportif 5-2 aggregate.
In 2016, Super Falcons won yet another African Women’s Championships title at the sacred Ahmadu Ahidjo Stadium, Yaounde. President Paul Biya was in a sorry state after Desire Oparanozie wrecked the Lionesses.
Anyim came out with another revelation. He believes Egypt will not have it easy with Nigeria when both teams meat on January 11, at the Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua.
“You follow soccer more than I do. Check your records. Eguavoen never lost to Egypt at the African Nations Cup, as a player. I think he will improve on that in Cameroon.”
I ran a quick check. Eguavoen was part of Manfred Hoener’s Green Eagles to the Maroc ’88 African Nations Cup. It was Nigeria 0 Egypt 0. The same result applied when both teams meat at Tunisia ’94. Cerezo won gold under Clemens Westerhof.
Eguavoen was Manager at Egypt 2006. The opportunity to face Egypt in the final was stemmed by Didier Drogba’s Cote D’ Ivoire in the semis.
Anyim’s submission makes a lot of sense. I know cup victory is achievable. Cameroon is a favourable ground. The Green Eagles did not qualify when the Cameroonians first hosted the African Nations Cup in 1972 but they made a point.
In a pre tournament friendly in Douala on February 13, 1972, Eagles defeated Indomitable Lions 2-1. Jossy Dombraye and Gideon Njoku scored for the winners.
The Green Eagles comprised Eyo Essien in goal, Tony Igwe, Austin Ofuokwu, Sani Mohammed, Victor Oduah and captain Godwin Achebe in defence . Others were Njoku, Sunny Oyarekhua, Peter Anieke, George Okoro and Dombraye.
Nyior went in for Oyarekhua but did not last till full time. He was pulled out for Mathias Obianika.
I am delighted that Super Eagles are playing Pharoahs in Garoua, home town of ex- CAF president Issa Hayatou. The man who once acted as FIFA boss is close to Nigeria and Egypt.
Hayatou was at the NFA in 1973 to learn football administration. One of those who put him through was Patrick Okpomo. When the Cameroonian traveled back to his country, he was appointed Secretary General of FECAFOOT, their equivalent of the NFF.
Hayatou is a titled Chief in Abia State. He knows Aba, Umuahia and Igbere as much as Garoua, Baffousam and Bamenda. Enyimba fans shook hands with him long before Eguavoen joined the Aba Ngwa club.
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As CAF president, Hayatou operated from Cairo. Most of his workers were Egyptians and I am sure some of those faces may be in Garoua to say hello to their former boss.
Eguavoen has an axe to grind. The last time he played in Cameroon, disaster struck. Super Eagles bid to play at the Italia ’90 World Cup was halted by Francois Omam Biyik’s header.
It was two weeks after Sam Okwaraji’s death. I remember talking to Eguavoen as Okwaraji’s body was brought to the National Stadium, Lagos. He vowed that the Eagles were going to Yaounde to win for their fallen colleague.
At Stade Ommisport, Yaounde on August 27, Westerhof bought wahala. The Dutchman, in his first game in charge, dropped Peter Rufai at the airport just before departure to Cameroon.
Second choice, David Ngodigha manned the posts. He was brutally injured. Aloy Agu had no plans for the game. When the net needed a guard, he had no gloves, wore oversized cleats and borrowed Taju Oyekanmi’s T -shirt.
It was that same year that Eguavoen scored his only goal for Nigeria, against Zimbabwe in Ibadan. His elder brother, Monday played for Green Eagles earlier. Another sibling, Ikponwosa was a Golden Eaglet in 1996.