18 RETIRED LIVING NIGERIAN PLAYERS FANS WOULD LOVE TO SEE BACK ON THE PITCH
Profiles
Cameroon's legend, Roger Milla in 1990, surprised the world when he came out of retirement to lead his country's Italia '90 World Cup onslaught.
At 50 or so, Milla dazzled, scoring great goals that saw Cameroon become the first African country to reach the last eight of the mundial. His makossa dance after finding the back of the net remains ever green in the memory of soccer fans.
Back home here in Nigeria, the like of Christian Chukwu, Segun Odegbami, Adokie Amiesimaka, Austin Jay Jay Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu in their heydays thrilled Nigerian soccer fans to the best of football. Just like Milla, these great stars have since quit the stage.
However, many followers of the game in the country believed the country is yet to get a replacement for the duo of Okocha and Kanu.
In this piece, we bring you an 18- man list of Nigerian ex-internationals who soccer fans in the country would wish to see stage a come back to the pitch if only age has nothing to do with playing football.
1. Emmanuel Okala- This former Rangers of Enugu and Green Eagles keeper was a colossus in post for club and country. The lanky goalkeeper helped Rangers to win the African Cup of winners in 1977. He was equally in goal when Nigeria won the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil in 1980.
2. Christian Chukwu-Popularly called, Chairman, Chukwu led the then Green Eagles to win the Nations Cup on home soil in 1980. He was a rock of Gibraltar in the Green Eagles central defence.
3. Austin Jay Jay Okocha- Okocha remains one of the most talented players to have ever laced boots for Nigeria. His dribbling skills was amazing. He was simply a bundle of skills. It is recalled that Okocha led Nigeria to the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan.
4. Nwankwo Kanu- It is really difficult to say who is more skillful between Kanu and Okocha. Kanu popularly known as Papilo was a beauty to watch both for clubs and country. He is Nigeria's most decorated footballer, having won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, UEFA Champions League, Olympic gold medal and African Footballer of the Year and the World Club Cup.
5. Adokie Amiesimaka- Nicknamed the Chief Justice by late ace commentator, Ernest Okonkwo, Amiesimaka was a delight to watch with his trade mark runs down the flanks. He was a natural left footer and was a key member of the 1980 Cup of Nations winning Green Eagles.
6. Segun Odegbami- Odegbami also got mathematical added to his name by Ernest Okonkwo. While Amiesimaka operated from the left, Big Seg as he is fondly called today by admirers operated from the right. Little wonder the Eagles over ran every opponent to win the 1980 Nations Cup.
7. Emmanuel Amuneke- What Adokie did in the 80's, for the then Green Eagles, Amuneke came to re enact in the 90s. The Eziobodo, Owerri born winger scored crucial goals for Nigeria. His goals against Argentina gave Nigeria the Atlanta 96 Olympic gold medal and the Tunisia 94 Nations Cup against Zambia. He is a member of the exclusive club of former African Footballers of the Year, having won the crown in 1994.
8. Stephen Keshi- Keshi was nicknamed the Big Boss courtesy of his influence as captain of Super Eagles. He captained the country to win the Nations Cup in Tunisia 94. Keshi like Chukwu was solid in central defence.
9. Rashidi Yekini- Yekini scored Nigeria's first ever World Cup goal against Bulgaria at the USA 94 mundial. He may not have had the Okocha or Kanu kind of finesse, but he was a lethal finisher. The gangling forward hardly fails to score when he comes one on one with any goalkeeper.
10. Henry Nwosu- Diminutive Nwosu was a crafty midfielder. He was the youngest member of the 1980 Nations Cup winning Green Eagles. Nwosu, who is highly gifted made his mark playing for NNB, ACB and ASEC Mimossa.
11. Dan 'The Bull' Amokachi- Amokachi was energetic and forceful on the ball. He played a commanding role in the midfield. He combined skill with energy. Little wonder, he was nicknamed the Bull.
12. Etim 'Maradona' Esin- When it comes to skills, Etim was in the class of Jay Jay and Kanu, but his career was cut short by indiscipline. He was outstanding during the Chile '87 FIFA Under-20 World Cup.
13. Sunday Oliseh- Oliseh captained Nigeria to the Mali 2002 Nations Cup. He featured at the US 94 and France 98 World Cup and played for some of the big clubs in Europe such as Ajax and Borrusia Dortmund and Juventus. Oliseh was a great passer of the ball and a good midfield organizer. He would be remembered for the great goal he scored against Spain at the France 98 World Cup. His short from 25 yards caught goalkeeper Zubizareta napping.
14. Finidi George- Finidi was one of the home lads discovered by Dutch tactician, Clence Westerhof, who till date remains unarguably Nigeria's most successful handler. Finidi operated from the right. The Rivers State-born star made his debut for Nigeria in 1991, in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Burkina Faso, providing three assists for Rashidi Yekini and scoring once in a 7-1 win. He helped the national team win the 1994 edition of the tournament in Tunisia, and also achieved one second and two third-place finishes.
15. Taribo West- West was a rugged no nonsense defender. West represented the Nigerian national team in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups. He is known for the various unusual and colourful hairstyles that he has sported over the years.
16. Yisa Shofoluwe- He was nicknamed Dean of defence. He was a member of the 1988 Green Eagles that won silver in Morocco. Shofoluwe was a member of the great Abiola Babes Football Club that won everything in the country. He had a pro stint in Belgium.
17. Peter Rufai- Rufai popularly called Dodo Mayana played for the great Stationery Stores of Lagos. Rufai played 65 international matches for Nigeria, scoring once, and represented the nation at two FIFA World Cups, always as starter: 1994 (Nigeria's first ever appearance, where the player also acted as captain) and 1998, also helping the Super Eagles win the 1994 African Nations Cup, in Tunisia.
18. Victor Nosa Ikpeba- Ikpeba was crowned the Prince of Monaco courtesy of his performance for Monaco in France. Ikpeba was named the African Footballer of the Year in 1997. He played a major role in the Dream Team squad that won gold for Nigeria at Atlanta 96. He scored the wonderful goal that saw Nigeria come from behind to beat Brazil in the Atlanta 96 semi final. Nigeria went ahead to beat Argentina in the final to win gold.
Ikpeba played 30 international matches and scored three goals for Nigeria, and played at the FIFA World Cups in 1994 and 1998. He also helped win the 1994 African Nations Cup.