Uzor Maxim, Uzoatu
The only thing that unites all Nigerians is the beautiful game of football.
These are very sad times in Nigerian history and politics, and the most aching dimension is that the soothing balm of football has been included in the sordid decline.
Its an unpalatable reality that the Nigerian national team, the Super Eagles, must perforce up the ante in performances if the countrys flag is to be hoisted in the next World Cup.
Nigeria needs to beat Rwanda in Kigali to somewhat redeem the battered image of the country in the World Cup qualifiers.
There is the patriotic vibe in me to boost the teams spirit by recalling when the Super Eagles reigned as the toast of the world in 1994 and 1996.
The class of 94-96 dazzled the world with a scintillating World Cup debut in USA in 1994 and then won the coveted Olympic Soccer Gold Medal in Atlanta in 19996.
Nigeria fell short of winning the 1994 World Cup, but winning the gold medal of the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games somewhat made up for it all.
Let it be known here that our beloved heroine, Chioma Ajunwa, made history too by winning the Olympic gold in long jump in the selfsame Atlanta 1996 games.
On the football front, the esteemed coach of the Super Eagles, Clemens Westerhof, had departed from the Nigerian scene after the 1994 World Cup, thus making way for his sidekick, Jo Bonfrere, to take up the task of coaching the Nigerian football team to the Atlanta 96 Olympic Games.
The Olympic team was made up of Under-23 players with three overage players added to the list, notably: Uche Okechukwu, Daniel Amokachi and Emmanuel Amuneke.
In a tough Group D featuring Brazil, Japan and Hungary, Nigeria played her first match against Hungary on July 21, 1996 at the Citrus Bowl, Orlando, winning 1-0 courtesy of a 44th minute goal by team captain Kanu Nwankwo.
Legendary referee Collina of Italy handled Nigerias next match against Japan on July 23 before 22,734 fans at the Citrus Bowl, Orlando.
Tijani Babangida scored Nigerias first goal in the 82nd minute while Augustine Jay-Jay Okocha scored the second goal on the dot of the 90th minute from the penalty spot, thus sealing a 2-0 victory.
Before 55,650 spectators at the Orange Bowl, Miami on July 25, soccer giants Brazil defeated Nigeria 1-0 through Ronaldos 30th minute strike.
Nigeria qualified for the quarterfinal knockout stage behind Brazil as the second-placed team in the group.
In the quarterfinal match played on July 28 at Legion Field, Birmingham before 44,788 spectators, Nigeria beat Mexico 2-0 with goals coming from Okocha in the 20th minute and Celestine Babayaro in the 84th minute.
July 31, 1996 was Nigerias date with destiny as the team was pitched in an epic semifinal battle with Brazil.
Referee Garcia Aranda took charge before 78,587 spectators at the Sanford Stadium, Athens.
Brazil scored the first goal in the very first minute of the match through Flavio Conceicao.
Ace Brazilian defender Roberto Carlos diverted a NIgerian shot into his own net in the 20th minute to gift Nigeria with the equalizer.
Bebeto regained the lead for Brazil in the 28th minute when he beat the Nigerian goalkeeper Joseph Dosu.
Flavio Conceicao shot Brazil further ahead in the 38th minute for a 3-1 halftime lead.
Victor Ikpeba pulled a goal back for Nigeria in the 78th minute.
Then the game turned on its head as Skipper Kanu Nwankwos “show”, as he scored the equalizer in the 90th minute, thus dragging the match into extra-time in which a winner would emerge through the scoring of the sudden-death golden goal.
Kanu Nwankwo scored the killer goal in the 94th minute, thereby sending Nigeria into the final of the Atlanta 96 soccer competition at the expense of dreaded Brazil.
The matchup for the gold medal was against Argentina, the star-studded team that had beaten Portugal 2-0 in the other semifinal.
The attendance for the final match stood at a giddy 86,117 spectators at Sanford Stadium, Athens with Italys referee Collina in-charge.
Claudio Lopez gave Argentina an early lead in the 3rd minute.
Celestine Babayaro out-jumped all in the Argentine box to head in Nigerias equalizer in the 28th minute.
Nigerian defender Taribo West gifted the Argentines with a penalty in the 50th minute which was converted by Hernan Crespo.
Daniel Amokachi scored Nigerias equalizer in the 74th minute.
Emmanuel Amuneke stabbed home Nigerias winning goal in the 90th minute, leaving the dogged Argentines stunned.
Nigeria thus made history as the first African country to win the Olympic soccer gold medal.
According to Sunday Oliseh, the midfield anchor of the team: This team had youthful exuberance, speed, technicality, endurance and patriotism. The players brought suspense and entertainment to the Olympic arena like never before The team came into America early, way before every other team. The players trained in Tallahassee, Florida, unnoticed and unannounced. We left as the most loved and supported soccer team at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.
Now I have done my patriotic beat by recalling the Olympic gold medal feat to ginger the Super Eagles to do well to qualify for the next World Cup.
Nigerians deserve a measure of joy, especially from the unity-inducing cherished field of football.
