Former Green Eagle’s captain and Super Eagle’s assistant coach, Christian Chukwu as stated that men played for the green Eagles and boys play for the Super Eagles.
In an interview with Brila Fm, chairman, as he is fondly called made it clear in his distinction between the Nigerian team, particularly of the 80’s and that of the new generation. Christian Chukwu said that the major distinction between the two era of the National team was prioritisation of records over services.
He further claimed that though amateur, the Green Eagles were talented footballers who played for passion but for the Super Eagles, their generation is mostly saturated with professional footballers who get paid heavily for playing football. The Green Eagles metamorphosed into the Super Eagles. The name was changed after the nation’s team returned from the 1988 nations cup.
The highest the Green Eagles attained was the Nations Cup triumph in 1980 as the group of players won the cup for the nation for the very first time and created history but they are still in the memories of many football fans. Today majority of the winning team are still relevant in the nation’s football arena and their voices are still relevant in today’s football.
The team comprised players like Best Ogedegbe, Emmanuel Okala- the man mountain, Sylvanus Okala, Oke Isina, Mudashiru Lawal, Aloysius Atuegbu- block buster, Henry Nwosu, Adokie Amiesimaka – Chief Justice, Kadiri Ikhana, Moses Effiong, Felix Owolabi – owoblow, not forgetting Segun
Odegbami – mathematical, and the chairman himself, Christian Chukwu.
Though much has been done in the Super Eagles era but it has been done on professional level as said by Christian Chukwu. It could be also recalled that in the Super Eagles era, Nigeria has made six appearances at the world cup since ’94 missing only the action in 2006. They have also won the nation’s cup twice. Though a wonderful achievement, Christian Chukwu still believes that the present ara has more materials.
