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CORONAVIRUS ROBS 1980 GREEN EAGLES ANOTHER GOLDEN HANDSHAKE BY GOVERNMENT

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According to a press release by the media aides of Nigeria’s sports minister, Sunday Dare, the Nigerian government had planned to celebrate the 40th year anniversary of the national football team’s maiden victory at the Africa Cup of Nations, which should have been this Sunday.

But the proposed ceremony has been stalled by the outbreak of the covid-19, which led to the suspension of all sporting activities in the country.


“We were planning to celebrate this anniversary in style in honour of these great patriots, but due to the covid-19 scourge, we had to put it on hold.

“Once the situation returns to normal, we shall celebrate these worthy Nigerians. We shall continue to honour those that have won laurels for our great country. Their immense sacrifice cannot be forgotten”


Speaking in the same vein, Nigerian Football Ambassador, Daniel Amokachi   described the team as more talented than the 1994 Nations Cup winning squad.

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 “The 1980 Green Eagles are the most talented Nigerian team ever. They were even better than the 1994 squad, which most Nigerians considered very talented.

“This team is under celebrated. Imagine a team that had Best Ogedegbe, Kadiri Ikhana, Muda Lawal, Segun Odegbami, Adokiye Amiesimaka, and Christian Chukwu among others.

“We have not done justice to these players because there is no archives detailing their achievements. Television was not too common then, so a lot of younger generation did not watch them play.

“Each time I watch the old video clips, I get inspired. They deserve to be celebrated more because their achievement encouraged a lot of younger players. They were not only talented; they were patriots and heroes who opened up opportunities for many younger players.


They have a big space in the history of not only Nigerian football, but Africa and the world at large. They can never be forgotten any time the history of football is discussed. ” Amokachi affirmed.

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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