The ascension to global recognition of the Senior National Men Football team (Super Eagles of Nigeria) between 1994 to 1996 in CAF and FIFA tournaments was unprecedented.
Based on pedigree, you can pick your best crop of players that did Nigeria proud in the 1994 CAF Nations Cup hosted by Tunisia but I rather pick the 1996 FIFA Olympic games Nigerian team because Nigeria was the first ever African Footballing Nation to win a Gold medal as hosted at Atlanta, United States of America.
That Super Eagles team had the likes of Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, Tijani Babangida, Victor Ikpeba, Emmanuel Amuneke, Taribo West, Uche Okechukwu, Daniel ‘The Bull’ Amokachi, Sunday Oliseh, Garba ‘Lecturer’ Lawal, Nwankwo ‘Papilo’ Kani, Celestine Babayaro, Teslim Fatusi, Mobi Oparaku to mention a few.
In a chat on SPORTS WORLD Whatsapp platform, the 1994 CAF African Footballer of the Year who is one of the greatest African player of his era, Emmanuel Amuneke as he shares his personal relished golden moments in the Atlanta 1996 tournament where he featured in the Green White Green jersey of Nigeria.
One of my high points was when we were playing against the World heavyweight, Brazil, Amuneke said, “We had played Brazil in the group stage where we lost 1-0 and then playing them in the semi finals, I think we knew how good they were as a team but we also had a lot of talents in our team.
We believed in ourselves, we talked to ourselves, trying to be disciplined I think, that is the key word you know. It does not matter how good we were individually but the key word is trying to be disciplined, playing as a team, working as a team, helping each other as a team. I think that really helped us when we were confronted again against Brazil.”
“I remember the game we were losing but we were calm. In the second half, Coach Bonfrere Jo made some few changes and introduced new players like Ikpeba and then in the game we started finding our way. We started having more control and balance in the game.
Amuneke picked his scoring of the winning goal against South American giants, Argentina in the finals as a memorable one.
He said, “It was great scoring the goal that eventually gave us the victory. For us (Nigeria) to become the Olympic Champions by winning the goal medal, it was very important in terms of my personal achievement. But what is above all is the team achievement.”
“We were happy that we left Nigeria as a team and at the end of the day, we achieve our objectives.
“I remember in the morning when I was approached by Coach Bonfrere. He said, alot of people especially journalists were complaining that I was not playing at my best.”
That he (Coach Bonfrere) should not play me.
I replied Coach Bonfrere by saying, “Coach, we are in the finals, it does not matter whom you play, play who you think will help the team.”
“If you decide that I should be on the bench, there won’t be any problem but you should know that when you need me in the game. I will always be there.”
At that particular time, we were in the finals and if we can be able to win that finals against Argentina, I think that will be a big turn point to most of us and eventually at the end of the day we won it.
” It became realistic and a lot of us started having opportunities as big clubs started looking towards the direction of the Nigerian National Team. ”
Emmanuel Amuneke is now a Coach and the teams he has handled so far include:
Al Hazm (Assistant Coach) (2008)
Nigeria U 17 team (2014 – 2017)
Al Khartoum (2017 – 2018)
Tanzania Senior National Men Football Team (2018 – 2019)
Misr Lel Makkasa – 2020
Coach Amuneke won Under 17 World Cup for Nigeria
