Governing Bodies
IT’S 71 YEARS TODAY SINCE NIGERIA FIRST CONSTITUTE NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
How time flies! It is 71 years today since that 26 June 1949 date that what is today known as Super Eagles, Nigeria’s lead sports brand, was first composed. Logically, the Super Eagles clock 71 years today.
Last year on the same day, they defeated Guinea 1-0 to become the first of the 24 teams to advance beyond the group stage of the Africa Cup of Nations.
For the records,after four trial matches involving teams from the North, East, West and Lagos, the Selection Committee of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) on 26 June 1949, announced 17 names as the first set of players of the Nigeria national team. The 18th player was named five days later.
The players announced were: Goalkeepers – Sam Ibiam (Port Harcourt), Isaac Akioye (Ibadan); Defenders – Justin Onwudiwe (Lagos Railway), Olisa Chukwura (Abeokuta), Ahmed Tijani B. Ottun (Lagos Marine), Isiaku Shittu (Lagos UAC), John Dankaro (Jos), Hope Lawson (Lagos Marine) and Dan Anyiam (Lagos UAC).
Forwards – Mesembe Otu (Lagos Marine), Peter Anieke (Lagos Railway), Sokari Dokubo (Lagos Railway), Edet Ebenezer (Port Harcourt), Godwin Anosike (Lagos Railway), Etim Richard Henshaw (Lagos Marine), Tesilimi Balogun (Lagos Railway) and Titus Okere (Lagos Railway).
The 17th and controversial choice of player, Okoronkwo Kanu, whose surname was Anglicized as ‘Kanoo’ was announced five days later and being the most literate, was made a player/secretary to the team.
The team manager was Captain Donald H. Holley, who was also the chairman of the NFA.
The intention was to raise a team that embarked on a goodwill tour of the United Kingdom in August.
For this reason, the national cup, Governors Cup traditionally played in the first week of November, had to be played this time around on 28 May 1949 to enable regions to raise teams from where the national team was selected.
That is the origin of the Nigeria national football team, which had been variously named the UK Tourists, the International Group, the red Devils, the Green Eagles and now the Super Eagles!
There was controversy over the choice of team captain. Pundits believed that since Lagos Railway supplied the bulk of the players, seven; the captain should naturally be Titus Okere, the captain of the club.
Six of the seven Railway players constituted the famed ‘Urion Line’ believed to be the most potent attacking force put together the club chairman, Mr. U.G Urion.
But the team selectors remarked that Okere, being an attacking left-winger would not be able to control the team from that position. Etim Henshaw was chosen as the captain.
There was also the clamour for the inclusion of schoolboy sensation, Taiwo Gbajabiamila of the Methodist Boys High School, Lagos. Yet others called for inclusion of four expatriate players from the Lagos European League.
A book chronicling the odyssey of the team from 1949 till its 70th anniversary in 2019, written by football diarist, Kunle Solaja, has been published and printed, but waiting for the current Covid-19 occasioned lockdown to be completely over before being unveiled and presented to the public.
The book is saga of the Nigerian team in its first 70 years. The release of the 17 names 71 years ago was in preparation for the country’s first properly organized national team, different from the previous Lagos IX that had engaged in matches with Accra IX.
The team later embarked on a goodwill tour of the United Kingdom and earned the nickname UK Tourists.
The FIFA Museum in Zurich has launched a new special exhibition titled Innovation in Action: Football Technologies on and off the Pitch, offering visitors an unprecedented glimpse into how innovation is transforming the world’s most popular sport.
Opened on Monday, October 1, 2025, the immersive showcase was developed in collaboration with the FIFA Innovation Team and other departments within world football’s governing body. It explores how cutting-edge technology supports players, referees, and fans—enhancing performance, ensuring fairness, and enriching the overall football experience—while preserving the game’s passion and human spirit.
“What makes this exhibition truly special is that we can give visitors a never-before-seen behind-the-scenes look that allows them to step inside football innovation, experiencing it hands-on rather than just reading about it,” said Marco Fazzone, Managing Director of the FIFA Museum. “We offer a glimpse at technologies and tools that fans don’t normally get to experience up close, while also showing how innovation has evolved over almost 100 years of FIFA World Cup history.”
Organised around five themed sections — Broadcasting & Media, Intelligent Data, Refereeing & Fair Play, Staging the Game, and the Innovation Lab — the exhibition blends rare artefacts with interactive displays. Visitors can relive football’s broadcast evolution, from the black-and-white footage of the 1954 World Cup to today’s ultra-slow motion 4K replays, and even step into a virtual referee booth to experience the pressures of officiating in real time.
Among the standout features is the FIFA Player App, which allows fans to explore Chelsea star Cole Palmer’s performance statistics from the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Final, illustrating how data helps players refine their craft.
Another exhibit showcases Canada goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan’s water bottle from the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 — marked with opponents’ penalty data — revealing how analytics influence critical moments.
Visitors can also view a referee body camera used at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, giving a fresh perspective on decision-making from the official’s point of view.
The exhibition invites visitors to engage directly with football technology. They can test their reflexes and judgment as referees, operate goal-line technology systems, or assume the role of a broadcast director managing live match feeds. Data enthusiasts can analyse player movements, while aspiring innovators can design their own football tech concepts inside the Innovation Lab.
Innovation in Action runs until 31 March 2026 at the FIFA Museum in Zurich. Entry is included with a standard museum ticket.
With its rich mix of storytelling, interactivity, and history, the exhibition promises to be a must-see experience for anyone passionate about the future of the beautiful game.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday that football could not solve conflicts, but it must carry a message of peace and unity as Israel’s military operation in Gaza and other global tensions fuel calls for the sport to take a stand.
“At FIFA, we are committed to using the power of football to bring people together in a divided world,” Infantino told a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich where he met Palestinian federation president Jibril Rajoub.
“Our thoughts are with those who are suffering in the many conflicts that exist around the world today, and the most important message that football can convey right now is one of peace and unity.”
Infantino said world football’s governing body could not solve geopolitical crises, but “it can and must promote football around the world by harnessing its unifying, educational, cultural and humanitarian values.”
“I met Palestinian Football Association (PFA) President Jibril Rajoub today at the Home of FIFA in Zurich to discuss the ongoing situation in the Middle East region,” Infantino later wrote on Instagram.
“I commend President Rajoub and the PFA for their resilience at this time and I reiterated to him FIFA’s commitment to using the power of football to bring people together in a divided world.”
FIFA has faced repeated calls to act over the war in Gaza, with Palestinian officials pressing for Israel to be suspended from international football.
The issue has been under review by FIFA for months, but no decision has been taken. Infantino has consistently said such matters require consensus with the confederations and must be handled with caution.
The comments came a day after FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani noted that any decision over Israel’s participation in European competitions, including World Cup qualifiers, was a matter for UEFA to decide, effectively putting the onus on the European body.
“First and foremost, it (Israel) is a member of UEFA, no different than I have to deal with a member of my region for whatever reason… They have to deal with that,” Montagliani told reporters at the Leaders sports business conference on Wednesday.
Israel are third in Europe’s Group I of the qualifying stage for next year’s World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Amnesty International on Wednesday sent a letter to FIFA and UEFA calling on them to suspend the Israel Football Association.
-Reuters
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The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has dismissed reports suggesting that its Statutes will be amended at this year’s Annual General Assembly (AGA), insisting that no such plans are on the table for the September 27 meeting.
In a statement, the Federation stressed that the ongoing conversation around its Statutes remains at a preliminary stage and that suggestions of imminent changes are unfounded.
Ahead of the AGA, the NFF will host a workshop on September 26, bringing together representatives of its members, as well as officials from FIFA and CAF. According to the Federation, the forum is strictly consultative, designed to deliberate on proposals for new Statutes in line with the principles of good governance and international best practices.
The NFF explained that only after consensus is reached with its members will a separate General Assembly be convened to formally consider and adopt any proposed Statute changes.
“The NFF remains committed to due process, transparency, and working hand-in-hand with its General Assembly Members, FIFA, and CAF,” the statement read.
“The ultimate goal is to establish enduring Statutes that will strengthen governance, broaden representation, and promote inclusivity within Nigerian football.”
The Federation added that the long-term reform framework is aimed at ensuring stability and progress across its structures and enhancing the participation of all stakeholders in the country’s football administration.
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