he memories of the first Nigerian national football team to represent the country at any Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) organized tournament still linger in the mind of ex-international, Paul Okoku.
Paul Okoku.
Okoku, who was the vice-captain of the then Flying Eagles team under coach Chris Udemeze with assistance from Isiaka Yakubu, both of whom are of blessed memory, that represented Nigeria at the FIFA Junior World Cup in Mexico in 1983 recounts the experience of the team and why they failed to go far in the competition in spite of the presence of skillful players in the team.
“Wearing the national team jersey then was a pride to us. We loved what we were doing then, though without monetary gains but the pride that you’re a member of the team was enough motivation.
“Now the reverse is the case. It is all about money, but you cannot blame anybody. Parents are now trying to get the best out of their wards through football at all cost, thus piling pressures on them, especially the good ones,” he said.
“Playing for Nigeria was a thing of joy for me and I never regretted doing that. No regret whatsoever and I give God the glory.
“But one thing that will remain indelible in my memory was the inability of our U-20 team to go far at the 1983 Junior World Cup in Mexico. That to me was very painful because we were very committed and determined, yet we crashed out at the preliminary stage.
“We defeated Russia in our first (opening) game. I can remember the full support we got from the Mexicans, before and during the game, singing “Nigeria, Nigeria, ra, ra, ra.
“We had high hopes because we believed in ourselves and Nigerians believed in us with players like Deinde Akinlotan, the Olukanmi Brothers and Yisa Sofoluwe among others.
“Then, the second game against Brazil (parading the likes of Bebeto, Giovanni, Jorginho and Dunga, who later coached the Brazilian team in the 2010 World Cup held in South Africa.
“Well, we lost 3-0, and all the three goals were scored in the first half. It was painful really and the reason was simple, it was the game we needed to win so desperately to have the chance to move to the quarter finals, but we lost.
“We were very anxious to win the match and qualify for the next stage and in the process, we lost concentration and partly to the injuries on our point man, Segun Olukanmi as well as Humphrey Edobor. “Till today, that our team is still considered the best Flying Eagles ever assembled
“For winning the ticket to represent Africa at the World Cup and our unprecedented achievement, we were awarded scholarship to further our education anywhere in the world, by the then President of Nigeria, Alhaji Shehu Shagari,” he said.
Other members of the team include late Ali Jeje (Capt), Tajudeen Disu, Samson Siasia, Christopher Obi (goalkeeper) to mention but few.
Fact file
Okoku’s fact file
• A member of the senior national team that won silver medal at the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire
• A member of the Flying Eagles squad that won gold at the 1983 West Africa Football Union (WAFU) Cup
• A member of the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) between 1980 and 1982 that represented Nigeria at the Gothia Cup, Sweden in 1980 and Dallas Cup, USA in 1982
• Won the Gothia Cup in Sweden, in 1980, 1981 and 1982 and Dallas Cup, USA in 1981 and 1982 as a member of the YSFON team
• Represented Lagos State during the late General Murtala Ramat Cup in Lagos and Anambra States
• Played in the USA Collegiate Championship representing Alabama A & M University
• A member of the Nigerian team that won gold medal during the tournament, termed “Tesema Cup,” to claim the best junior national team in Africa, in 1982, when Nigeria defeated the Yusuf Fofana-led Ivorian team.
