Guys you need to read this !
20 years ago, Nigeria played against Italy in the second round of the USA ’94 World Cup. That
game is one of the most memorable games in
Nigerian football history.
20 years ago, Nigeria played against Italy in the second round of the USA ’94 World Cup. That
game is one of the most memorable games in
Nigerian football history.
Nigeria was participating in the World Cup for the
first time then and the squad was in top form.
They had won the Nations Cup earlier that year in
impressive fashion, so the morale was high and
the squad was pretty popular back home.
first time then and the squad was in top form.
They had won the Nations Cup earlier that year in
impressive fashion, so the morale was high and
the squad was pretty popular back home.
Nigerians had high expectations of Coach
Clemence Westerhof and his boys, and the team
did get some fine results.
For starters, they thrashed Bulgaria 3-0 in their
first game and bounced back from a narrow
defeat to Argentina to beat Greece and qualify for
the second round on top of the group.
Italy, on
the other hand, virtually limped out of their group
with four points. Now, they had to get the African
champions out of the way in order to take a shot
at winning the World Cup as a lot of people had
predicted. This game was going to be a
showdown.
Clemence Westerhof and his boys, and the team
did get some fine results.
For starters, they thrashed Bulgaria 3-0 in their
first game and bounced back from a narrow
defeat to Argentina to beat Greece and qualify for
the second round on top of the group.
Italy, on
the other hand, virtually limped out of their group
with four points. Now, they had to get the African
champions out of the way in order to take a shot
at winning the World Cup as a lot of people had
predicted. This game was going to be a
showdown.
Charles watched the game on TV that July in
Lagos. He says today, “Actually, the only thing on
my mind that day was that Nigeria would destroy
Italy and bring home the trophy. I was so
confident in the team because we had good
players and the team was very strong. Everyone
was very optimistic. We didn’t see ourselves as
mere underdogs in this game. We were so sure
that the Italians were on their way out. That was
the spirit.”
Lagos. He says today, “Actually, the only thing on
my mind that day was that Nigeria would destroy
Italy and bring home the trophy. I was so
confident in the team because we had good
players and the team was very strong. Everyone
was very optimistic. We didn’t see ourselves as
mere underdogs in this game. We were so sure
that the Italians were on their way out. That was
the spirit.”
54,000 people turned up at the Foxboro stadium
in Massachusetts that windy Tuesday afternoon
to watch the match. The stadium was packed.
It was the Europeans who dominated early in the
game and got the first couple of scoring
opportunities, but it was the Africans who hit the
net first in the 25th minute through 23-year old
Emmanuel Amunike, and Lagos went wild with
jubilation.
The Azurris were clearly stunned.
“I remember watching this game with my brothers
and parents and all our neighbours,” Patricia
says. “Someone brought out their TV and the rest
of us brought out chairs from our flats and we all
gathered. When Amuneke scored, there was lot of
screaming. It was like one big party. Everyone
was cheering loudly.”
in Massachusetts that windy Tuesday afternoon
to watch the match. The stadium was packed.
It was the Europeans who dominated early in the
game and got the first couple of scoring
opportunities, but it was the Africans who hit the
net first in the 25th minute through 23-year old
Emmanuel Amunike, and Lagos went wild with
jubilation.
The Azurris were clearly stunned.
“I remember watching this game with my brothers
and parents and all our neighbours,” Patricia
says. “Someone brought out their TV and the rest
of us brought out chairs from our flats and we all
gathered. When Amuneke scored, there was lot of
screaming. It was like one big party. Everyone
was cheering loudly.”
Italy pressed forward and pushed for an equaliser
before half time, but the defence was strong even
without skipper Stephen Keshi. Young J.J.
Okocha and Sunday Oliseh also held up well in
the midfield, while Rashidi Yekini slugged it out
up front with the Italian defenders.
before half time, but the defence was strong even
without skipper Stephen Keshi. Young J.J.
Okocha and Sunday Oliseh also held up well in
the midfield, while Rashidi Yekini slugged it out
up front with the Italian defenders.
The first half
ended with Italy trailing.
The Eagles continued to soak up the pressure in
the second half and fought hard to resist the
attacking Italians. The Nigerian fans were under a
lot of tension.
ended with Italy trailing.
The Eagles continued to soak up the pressure in
the second half and fought hard to resist the
attacking Italians. The Nigerian fans were under a
lot of tension.
“The game was nerve-racking!” says Azeez. “I kept
hoping we’d somehow withstand the pressure and
finish the game with our lead. But I think the
referee was unfair. He called a lot of free kicks
against us and let [Roberto] Baggio and the rest
threaten from the set pieces. We could have had
a penalty at the second half, at least the one
where Maldini fouled Yekini, but the ref didn’t
make the right call.”
hoping we’d somehow withstand the pressure and
finish the game with our lead. But I think the
referee was unfair. He called a lot of free kicks
against us and let [Roberto] Baggio and the rest
threaten from the set pieces. We could have had
a penalty at the second half, at least the one
where Maldini fouled Yekini, but the ref didn’t
make the right call.”
Italy had a man sent off in the 76th minute, and
it looked like the Nigerians had this one in the
bag and were on course to meet Spain in the
quarterfinal, but the Italians continued to push for
an equaliser.
it looked like the Nigerians had this one in the
bag and were on course to meet Spain in the
quarterfinal, but the Italians continued to push for
an equaliser.
Finally, just when the Eagles were stroking the
ball around thinking this one was over, the
breakthrough came for Italy. Two minutes to go,
Roberto Mussi collected a pass from the midfield
and ran towards the Nigerian box. Then he
passed the ball to Baggio, who tucked the ball
past Peter Rufai and right into the net.
The
‘Divine Ponytail’ hadn’t got a single goal in his
name in the tournament before this time. But
after this he went on to score the winner in extra
time. By then, the Eagles were disoriented.
ball around thinking this one was over, the
breakthrough came for Italy. Two minutes to go,
Roberto Mussi collected a pass from the midfield
and ran towards the Nigerian box. Then he
passed the ball to Baggio, who tucked the ball
past Peter Rufai and right into the net.
The
‘Divine Ponytail’ hadn’t got a single goal in his
name in the tournament before this time. But
after this he went on to score the winner in extra
time. By then, the Eagles were disoriented.
The
Italians were going to Los Angeles for the
quarterfinals, but the Nigerians were going to
Lagos. Their American Dream was finished.
Italians were going to Los Angeles for the
quarterfinals, but the Nigerians were going to
Lagos. Their American Dream was finished.
Even though Nigeria crashed out in the second
round, the world noticed the team’s remarkable
performance and that year FIFA ranked Nigeria
fifth in the world on account of their outing in
America. It was a fine case of Africa Rising, and
it looked like the beginning of a very productive
era for the Eagles.
round, the world noticed the team’s remarkable
performance and that year FIFA ranked Nigeria
fifth in the world on account of their outing in
America. It was a fine case of Africa Rising, and
it looked like the beginning of a very productive
era for the Eagles.
Charles says, “With the way the boys played in
that World Cup, I could have sworn that by now,
Nigeria would have won two World Cups. It was
that spectacular.”
Fast forward to 20 years later. Nigeria hasn’t
gone anywhere near a World Cup trophy or even
accomplished any better than it did in 1994.
that World Cup, I could have sworn that by now,
Nigeria would have won two World Cups. It was
that spectacular.”
Fast forward to 20 years later. Nigeria hasn’t
gone anywhere near a World Cup trophy or even
accomplished any better than it did in 1994.
It’s
like Nigerian football nosedived after the World
Cup. As the Nigerians got on the plane to Lagos
after that competition, Westerhof got on another
plane to Amsterdam. He quit. After him, the
Eagles have had 19 coaches in 20 years but only
one trophy to flaunt in as many years.
Like in 1994, the Eagles are currently the African
champions again. But this time, there is no déjà
vu.
like Nigerian football nosedived after the World
Cup. As the Nigerians got on the plane to Lagos
after that competition, Westerhof got on another
plane to Amsterdam. He quit. After him, the
Eagles have had 19 coaches in 20 years but only
one trophy to flaunt in as many years.
Like in 1994, the Eagles are currently the African
champions again. But this time, there is no déjà
vu.
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