By Oluwamayomikun Orekoya
For Nigerians, 1996 lives in their memory as the year its Under-23 national team, the Dream Team, became global icons during the Summer Olympics. And, 25 years later, it’s clear that team had an impact that stretched far beyond the nation’s borders.
Nigeria’s Dream Team was responsible for cementing the country’s place as a soccer nation worthy of considerable regard to opponents beyond the continent. Moreover, the nation’s path to gold involved defeating the best soccer team in the world at the time, Brazil—a feat players and fans recall as not just a victory for Nigerians, but one for Africans as a whole.
But many football fans may not remember Abiodun Obafemi.
The defender was part of the victorious Atlanta’96 and featured for 47 minutes – the last group game defeat to Brazil where he started but was substituted for Garba Lawal at the start of the second half. While many of his teammates went on to form the nucleus of the national team- The Super Eagles- Abiodun fell out of the radar for selections in the team despite playing in Europe like most of his peers.
The now 47-year-old played most of his career in Germany, featuring in the Bundesliga for Fortuna Dusseldorf in the 1996-1997 season. The former Stationery Stores star also had a stint in France with Toulouse on loan from Dusseldorf.
For Obafemi, the Olympics was the right platform for young, upcoming footballers to show the world what they can do and embrace other cultures from different parts of the world.
“What made the Olympic different from other tournament to me is the spirit behind the game itself,” he said. “Though it was a good opportunity for emerging player like us to showcase their talent to the world and earn respect for our respective nation as a football superpower, But the spirit of oneness, unity and participation stand the Olympics out.
“So it was not all about winning but joining the rest of the sporting World to celebrate mankind.”
Nigeria beat South American giants Brazil and Argentina en route to the gold medal and Abiodun believes the teams humility, focus and determination to win gave them the edge against their more illustrious foes.
He also feels the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should revamp the local leagues if they are serious about winning the gold medal in future Games.
“What gave us the edge was the humble way we approached the tournament, though majority of us, at that time, played for the top teams in Europe, same as some of the players the Brazilians and the Argentines paraded, we were humble, committed and focus, unlike the above-mentioned rated teams, who had already won the Gold Medal in their heads before kick-off,” he said.
“To replicate the feat at that level again, the NFF must reorganize our local league and make it the best in Africa,” Abiodun added. “Prioritize the players’ welfare, to put a stop to the idea that you must travel and play in Europe before you make it or get considered for selection should stop.
“And any players selected for the national team assignment, on the other hand, should see his selection, as a privilege to right his name in gold. So anything below 100% will not be acceptable.
“Lastly, the handlers too must ensure the best players are selected based on merit.”
While Abiodun thinks the current crop of players in the national team are talented enough, he believes the team lacks creativity and are not meeting the full potentials of fast wingers.
“The talents are there as always I must say but what we need to mould those talents together into an unbeatable winning machine, like the Italians, is a modern coach that will come out with a philosophy that allows the highly technical players we have, at present, at our disposal to flourish.”
“The present Eagles are not dominating games because the team lack creativity all over the place, they also do not make their advantage count in counter attacking situations. The present national team handlers have not added anything to our national team at all, I’m sorry to say.”
Role Models
Abiodun counts the late Super Eagles defender Yisa Sofoluwe as one of his role models and revealed his joy meeting the ex-Shooting Stars of Ibadan hard-man last year before his death in February.
“My role model at the local scene, was Yisa Sofoluwe and I am happy I met him and told him so before he sadly passed away last year, Abiodun said. “He was a cool and effective defender who got the job done without malice, he was nicknamed minister of defense for his defensive efficiency.
“On the international scene, my role model was Emmanuel Kunde, the legendary Cameroonian defender, who was a colossus in the heart of the Lion’s defense in those day. His skill and leadership quality stood him out.”
Best Moments
Abiodun, who was the first black player to captain Augsburg FC, counts signing his first professional contract abroad as one of the proudest moments in his life and helping Reutlingen Fc in 1999 to Bundesliga 2 after years in the lower rungs of German football as another proud moment for him.
“It was a dream comes true when I signed my first contract as a professional player in 1994 for Fortuna Dusseldorf, a German Bundesliga team,” Abiodun said. “Though there were two German teams interested in signing me, Fortuna Dusseldorf and Hamburg SV, I settled for Fortuna Dusseldorf because I was guaranteed enough playing time.”
“My best moments with the team were when we won promotion back to the Bundesliga after going down in 1993.
“And another promotion with Reutlingen Fc in 1999 from obscurity to Bundesliga 2, and I was voted the player of the year and was also honoured as a honourary citizen of the city of Ruetlingen by the City Mayor,
“Another wonderful moment was when I became the first Black player to Captain Augsburg FC, another German Bundesliga team.”
Racism in Football
Despite captaining a German team as a black man, Abiodun has had his fair share of racism and is disappointed that racism is still an issue in sports these days.
“Except few occasions in those days when we played in some former East Germany cities,” Abiodun noted. “I was lucky I didn’t experience any racist taunt.”
“The only difficulty I encountered is the normal one a young boy who is alone in a foreign land experience, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought and feared because the German team also signed my best friend and teammate, Arthur Moses, the Ex-Ghana international, who was my colleague at NEPA, First Bank And Stationery Stores FC, all of Lagos.
“It is sad and unfortunate that footballers are still experiencing racism in 2021.
“I am sure some of these bad guys find it difficult to understand why there are so many black players in the England national team, that they feared pretty soon it’s going to be an all-black team like the French National Team.”
“They have forgotten that these players were not selected to the team based on their colour but on their ability as a bonafide citizen of the country they represent. It’s a big shame on the bad guys out there, who still struggle in this century, to accept the fact that black, white, yellow or brown are one and the same in the presence of God our creator.”
Family, current and future plans
Abiodun said he came from a polygamous home in Kogi State and was a keen table tennis player before pitching his tent with football later in life.
“I am from Ekinrin-Adde, Ijumu local Government Area of Kogi State. My father who was a Magistrate, Judicial officer, in Old Kabba LGA in the 50s and 60s, was a polygamist with 15 wives, so I have a lot of brothers and sisters,” Abiodun revealed. “Although I did both my primary and secondary school, (Baptist Primary and Baptist High School) at home, I was known more as a table tennis and a volley ball player in those days, it wasn’t until I got to Kaduna that my hidden talent in football started showing.
“So my mother wasn’t even aware that I play football at all, the first time she saw me play was on TV.
“I am happily married to the only ‘babe of my youth’, with lovely boys and girl. I was fortunate to marry the first woman I fell in love with, who also love me.
“What attracted me was her beauty at first but her forthrightness, sincerity and hardwork as I got to know her blew me off.”
Investment in education
Abiodun after retirement has established a school with his wife and also runs a football academy in Lagos.
“Our school, Biswood International School (Nursery, Primary and Secondary) is based in Ikorodu, Lagos,” Abiodun said. “I am not really involve in daily class teaching. My wife manages the day-to-day running of the School. So that afford me all the time that I need to be on the football pitch with the guys.”
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