Nigerian Football
EXCLUSIVE! Nigeria’s Super Eagles clocks 75 today
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
It is 75 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 75 years today. In 1949, the assembly was initially called the ‘International Group’ and later named the ‘UK Tourists’.
That was when the first Nigeria national team was composed.
Five years ago, 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 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
For the records, after four trial matches involving teams from the North, East, West and Lagos, the Selection Committee of the then 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 Kanoo was announced five days later and being the most literate, he was made a player/secretary to the team.
Super Eagles @ 70 book chronicles the Nigerian national football team across seven decades
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 that time 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 and is still available to the public at N10 thousand a copy.
The book is saga of the Nigerian team in its first 70 years. The release of the 17 names 75 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 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has slammed Kano Pillars with a ₦9.5 million fine, a three-point deduction, and an indefinite ban from their home ground, Sani Abacha Stadium, following violent scenes during their Matchday 8 clash with Shooting Stars of Ibadan.
The latest punishment adds to Pillars’ growing record of disciplinary infractions. Since 2019, the club has paid over ₦36 million in fines related to crowd disturbances and violent conduct: ₦8m (June 2019), ₦2.5m (March 2022), ₦9m (April 2022), ₦2.25m (June 2022), ₦1m (October 2023), ₦12m (January 2024), and ₦2m (October 2024).
The disciplinary action, announced less than 24 hours after the incident, follows a pitch invasion in Kano that led to attacks on match officials and players of Shooting Stars, causing widespread condemnation.
Under the NPFL’s summary jurisdiction, the league deducted three points and three goals from Pillars’ accumulated tally for breaching Rule C1.1, which prohibits assault on match officials and opposing teams. The club will now play its home games at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina for the rest of the season.
In addition, the NPFL imposed a ₦9.5 million cumulative fine on the club for multiple breaches of league regulations:
- ₦1 million for failure to provide adequate security (Rule B13.52)
- ₦1 million for failing to control supporters who harassed the away team and officials (Rule C9)
- ₦1 million for objects thrown onto the pitch (Rule B13.18)
- ₦1 million for bringing the league into disrepute (Rule C1.1)
- ₦2 million for assault on the away team and officials
- ₦2 million as compensation to Shooting Stars players
- ₦1.5 million as restitution to assaulted match officials
In addition to the sanctions on Kano Pillars, the NPFL has written to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Match Officials Appointment Committee recommending a review and possible downgrade of five referees.
The affected officials include centre referee Mohammed B. Tuta (Adamawa), assistant referees Bem Japhet (Benue) and Shehu Isah (Adamawa) from the Pillars vs. Shooting Stars match, and centre referee Ikechukwu Taiwo (Rivers) along with assistant referee Usman Opeyemi Edward (Osun) from the Nasarawa United vs. Rangers fixture.
Davidson Owumi, the NPFL’s Chief Operating Officer, reaffirmed the league’s zero-tolerance policy for violence.
“We will invoke the rules wherever and whenever required to keep bad behaviour of fans, players, and officials out of the league,” he declared.
Kano Pillars have been given the right to appeal the sanctions, although failure to overturn the decision could lead to additional penalties.
The Sani Abacha Stadium will remain closed to fans for the remainder of the 2025 season.
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The management of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has condemned the violent scenes that followed Sunday’s Matchday 8 encounter between Kano Pillars and Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), describing the incident as disturbing and unacceptable.
In a statement signed by the league’s Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, the NPFL said it had noted with concern the reports and viral video clips showing fans invading the pitch at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano, shortly after the final whistle.
“We condemn in the strongest terms any act of violence, intimidation, or misconduct directed at players, match officials, or fans,” the statement read.
Owumi assured that the NPFL had already reached out to the Match Commissioner, Referees, and officials of Shooting Stars, confirming that their safety had been secured.
The league body stated that it is awaiting the official match reports and full video evidence from the Match Commissioner and Referees before taking disciplinary action but stressed that the incident would be treated with “utmost seriousness.”
“The NPFL is assuring all stakeholders and football lovers that this isolated incident is being handled decisively, and appropriate actions will follow upon review of the full reports,” Owumi said.
He reaffirmed the NPFL’s commitment to discipline, safety, and professionalism at all league venues nationwide, warning that violence of any kind will not be tolerated in the domestic league.
“We reaffirm our commitment to maintaining discipline, safety, and professionalism at all league venues across the country,” the statement concluded.
The Sunday incident in Kano has since sparked outrage among fans and officials, with many calling for stricter sanctions to deter future acts of hooliganism in Nigerian football.
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Former Super Eagles’ skipper and now Kano Pillars General Manager, Ahmed Musa, has tendered a public apology following the violent scenes that marred his club’s Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) fixture against Shooting Stars Sports Club on Sunday evening.
In a heartfelt statement posted on his official X handle, the Super Eagles captain described the incident as “heartbreaking, shameful, and completely unacceptable,” stressing that it does not reflect the true values or proud history of Kano Pillars.
The scene after the Kano Pillars versus Shooting Stars match.
“What transpired against Shooting Stars is heartbreaking, shameful, and completely unacceptable. It does not represent the true values, identity, or proud history of Kano Pillars,” Musa wrote.
He expressed deep regret to Shooting Stars players, coaches, officials, match referees, NPFL board members, GTI partners, and football fans across the country who witnessed the ugly scenes, promising that those responsible would be brought to book.
“Violence has no place in football. It is unacceptable, unjustifiable, and goes against everything this beautiful sport stands for. Football is meant to unite, to inspire, to bring joy. When it turns into scenes of chaos and harm, we must not pretend it away — we must confront it head-on,” he stated.
Musa assured that Kano Pillars would work closely with relevant authorities to identify and punish those behind the riot, adding that the club would take firm internal measures to prevent a recurrence.
“We understand that apologies alone are not enough. Words must be followed by action. We will take huge steps internally to ensure that something like this never happens again,” he said.
Addressing the club’s supporters directly, Musa urged them to show their passion through respect and discipline rather than violence.
“True support is shown not through violence, but through respect, passion, and discipline. This must be a turning point for us,” he appealed.
The former Leicester City and Al Nassr forward concluded by taking full responsibility on behalf of the club and promising to restore trust and respect for Kano Pillars and Nigerian football.
“We take full responsibility and will do everything necessary to restore trust, respect, and the true spirit of football in Kano and across Nigeria,” he said.
The NPFL and its partners are expected to launch an investigation into the incident, with potential sanctions looming for Kano Pillars, whose fans were reportedly involved in violent conduct following the match against the Ibadan-based Shooting Stars.
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