looking back into 70yrs of Nigerian football

Football | Nigeria at 50

Nigerian Soccer Players © Thomson

1960 - 1969

In Defence - Undoubtedly, Tony Igwe was the first full back in Nigeria's history to introduce and master the overlapping system from the right-full back position. Tony 'Parkins' as he was fondly called by his mates (I do not know the genesis of the name) was a beauty to watch as he tackled attackers, dispossessed them of the ball and glided down the right flank in quick counter, got to the goal line and floated lovely crosses into the box for his attackers. Tony came to the limelight as a school boy player from Academy College in Jos, got to the finals of the 1965 and 1966 FA Cup finals with Plateau Highlanders, played for Nigeria's Academicals, joined Stationary Stores and was invited to the national team. He totally monopolised the right side of the Nigerian defence for the next 8 years.

I do not know much about defenders on the left side of Nigeria's defence. Looking through the years it appears Nigeria always had challenges filling that position. Often the country had had to convert or use right-footed players in that position. Samuel Ojebode, Harrison Mecha, David Egborge, 'Mazelli' Augustine Ofokwu, Ben Iroha, Okey Isima, and so on, all through several generations have been right footed players converted to play at left full back position. They all did well though!

In the first generation, however, I do not know of anyone in that position that played outstandingly enough to be named as one of the 10 best players of that era.

In the centre of defence Fabian Duru was a terror up till the early 1960s. But one young gentleman who came and captained the national team after him and holds a great record of playing for over 10 years for the country is Godwin Achebe. It was the advent of the Civil war that truncated his performance as captain and centre back of the national team. When the war ended in 1970 he returned, captained the all-conquering Rangers of Enugu and was made captain of the national team again! He was that good! There were one or two others that traversed the 60s and 70s generations like Jerry Azinge and Segun Olumodeji (Rock of Gibraltar) who also played well in that position, but Godwin stood high above them in longevity and leadership!

In the Midfield, without question, although he came into limelight in the middle of that generation, he rose to become in my humble opinion, one of the best all-round football player in Nigeria's 50-year history. Those who saw him play would easily testify that Samuel Garba Okoye had the subliminal skills and control of Okocha, the passing and vision of Oliseh, the leadership of Chukwu or Keshi, and the scoring ability of Thomson Usiyen, all rolled into one. Another great midfield player was Sebastian Broderick, who was the quintessential great ball carrier, the linksman between defence and attack, and also a great passer of the ball. That generation obviously must have produced other greats including 'the tailor' Godwin Ogbueze who was so good he also started representing Nigeria from secondary school. That era also had Willie Andrews and Baba Alli both of Stationary Stores fame. Willie not only marked out but also outplayed the legendary Pele in a friendly match against Santos FC of Brazil played at the King George V Stadium in Lagos. His status rose to that of a superstar immediately after that feat!

In Attack several names stand out. Unfortunately I never saw any one of them play. Like Tony Igwe and Sam Garba the city of Jos also brought in the national team one they called Eusebio after the great Portuguese central striker of the 1966 World Cup fame. Peter Anieke was graceful to watch on the field. He was deadly with his left foot and his head! he was reputed as one of the best headers of the ball the country has ever produced.

Most good crosses that connected with his head were buried neatly behind helpless goalkeepers. Paul Hamilton was not called 'wonder boy' for nothing. His acceleration, speed and dribbling skills down the right flank wear uncommon weapons of that era. He was the first winger to add goalscoring to his responsibilities. I hear he was a delight to watch and a terror to defenders. There were others. Take your pick of any 2 or three of the following household names - Albert Onyeawuna, Elkana Onyali, Onyeador, Chukwuma, Christopher Ajillo, Sunday Atuma, Cyril Asoluka, and so on.

Courtesy Segun Odegbami

 Mudashiru Lawal

He worked as a mechanic when his football talents were discovered, making his national team debut in 1975. The same year he joined Shooting Stars F.C. of Ibadan, where he would play for many years, winning the African Cup Winners Cup as the first Nigerian team. In 1985 the team was ordered disbanded by a military governor, but after four seasons he returned toShooting Stars F.C. as a playing assistant coach.

He won 86 caps and scored 12 goals for his country, and the only player ever to appear at five consecutive Nation Cup final rounds (1976-1984), Lawal guided Nigeria to its first African Nations title, at the 1980 African Nations Cup.^[1] The team also competed at the Summer Olympics the same year.

Christian Chukwu
As a player, he became the captain of Enugu Rangers football club and the Nigeria national team in the late 1970s. He was the first Nigerian captain to lift the African Nations Cup trophy after a 3-0 victory over Algeria in the final of the 1980 tournament.


Teslim (thunder) Balogun

Balogun played in his native Nigeria for a number of teams, including Apapa Bombers, Marine Athletics, UAC XI, Railways XI,Jos XI, Pan Bank Team, Dynamos Club and SCOA XI.^[1] During his time in Nigeria, Balogun won the Challenge Cup a total of five times in seven finals.^[1] He was the first player to have a hat-trick in the competition

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