A former member of Nigeria Football Association (NFA) executive board, Ogbuefi Tony Nnacheta has set in motion plans to stage an anniversary to commemorate the 25th year of the Super Eagles’ USA ’94 debut at the FIFA World Cup.
Sports247.ng gathered that Nnacheta, who made his marks as a top shot in administration of the round leather game with African Continental Bank (ACB) FC of Lagos in the 80s, believes the Eagles’ milestone should be refreshed in the mind of all Nigerians.
Nnacheta, who is now a politician and commissioner in Anambra State, plans to roll out a chain of activities in April, to celebrate the Eagles for attaining their highest peak in football in 1994 when they won the Africa Cup of Nations and made their debut at the World Cup.The Commissioner for Information and Communication Strategy recalls that the Eagles of 1994 were so phenomenal that FIFA ranked Nigeria fifth in the world, which remains the highest position ever achieved by an African football team.
A media release heralding Nnachetat’s plans disclosed that the events, which are billed to last three days, starting April 26, will be graced by 37 football legends, including Samuel Eto’o and Didier Drogba.
Aside all all-stars’ match, which is billed to take place at Onikan Stadium, Lagos Island, there will also be a ceremonial unveiling of a book and a TV documentary about the historic Eagles’ squad of 1994 and the ‘Dream Team 1’ side that won Africa’s first Olympics soccer gold at Atlanta 96.
The statement read in part: “Come this April, it will be exactly 25 years since the ’94 team achieved all that and, deservedly, there are plans to mark their silver jubilee this year in Lagos.
“The ’94 team bragged of legendary players like Rashidi Yekini, Emmanuel Amunike, Sunday Oliseh and Daniel Amokachi, as well as leading to the discovery of icons like Nwankwo Kanu and Jay-Jay Okocha.
“The team also made history by becoming the first from Africa to win the Summer Olympics in 1996.
“Fans will get a chance to see them in action again, as the players will reunite for an exhibition match against other African legends in Onikan Stadium.”
