Nigerians will not forget in hurry the glory and honour that the USA 1994 Super Eagles’ squad brought to the country. The team achieved many firsts including being the first team ever to qualify for finals of the FIFA World Cup; the first to win the Africa Cup of Nations away from home and the first African team to be rated fifth in the monthly FIFA World rankings. OLALEKAN OKUSAN writes on the plans to celebrate the feat of the Coach Clement Westerhof-tutored side as probably the most enduring Nigerian brand since independence.
It is a known fact that the 1994 Super Eagles’ squad remains Nigeria’s most successful national football team at the senior level.
A team put together by Dutch coach Clemens Westerhof went on to become the toast of the world with their gallantry by winning the Tunisia 1994 AFCON en route to the USA’94 World Cup.
Some members of the team have also become the national coaches of the Super Eagles with the late Stephen Keshi and Samson Siasia as shining examples of the team.
Being the captain of the team that won the 1994 AFCON in Tunisia, Keshi as Super Eagles’ coach tutored the team that claimed the 2015 AFCON in South Africa. Siasia, on his part, has been referred to as ‘World Cup Coach’ after he led the country’s Under-20 team to the final of the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Holland. He was also in charge of the Dream Team that finished second at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in China as well as the bronze medal-winning team of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Brazil.
However, some members of this formidable squad have left the stage while others soldier on with their lives in various facets of life.
Meanwhile, the first member of the team to pass on was Uche Okafor in 2011 and he was reportedly found hanging at his Dallas, Texas, home and a preliminary report by the Dallas police ruled that the easy-going defender unfortunately committed suicide.
In 2012, Rashidi Yekini who passed on was reported to be ill for an extended period of time. He died in Ibadan on 4th May 2012 at 48 and was buried at his residence in Ira, Kwara State.
Also, midfielder Thompson Oliha died of reported complications from malaria on June 2013. Goalkeeper Wilfred Agbonavbare in January 2015 was reported to be suffering from cancer, and he subsequently underwent treatment at the Hospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias in Alcalá de Henares in Spain. But he succumbed to the disease three days later at 48.
Skipper Stephen Okechukwu Keshi fondly called the “Big Boss” was a Nigerian football defender turned coach who alongside Egypt’s Mahmoud El-Gohary were the only two people to have won the Africa Cup of Nations as players and coaches. Keshi, whose wife of 33 years, Kate, died on 10 December 2015, after battling cancer for three years, died on 8th June 2016 in Benin City, after suffering from a cardiac arrest, at 54.
Beyond the departed members of the 1994 squad, the team is generally considered as the finest collection of players ever assembled in the green and white colours of Nigerian and a plan is now in the offing to mark the silver jubilee of the team’s feat.
A former vice chairman of the defunct Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Tony Nnacheta, said there has not been any team, anywhere in the world, recognised like the 1994 Super Eagles squad.
“The Super Eagles’ class of 1994 is the most enduring Nigerian brand since independence; first Nigerian team to qualify for the finals of FIFA World Cup; first Nigerian team to win the African Nations Cup away from home, and the first African team to be rated 5th in FIFA world ranking,” he said.
He added: “’The class of ’94’ details and describes the historic coming of age of Nigerian football, starting from Maroc ’89 and encompassing the African Nations Cup Algeria ’90, Senegal ’92, climaxing in the golden years of the Eagles with brilliant achievements in Tunisia 94, World Cup USA 94, culminating in the Olympics ’96 football gold in Atlanta.”
Nnacheta said: “These triumphs brought joy and rare unity to the entire nation. It instilled a sense of pride among all Nigerians from all walks of life and to the Black Diaspora worldwide.”
On why the celebration is unique, Nnacheta said: “It aims at celebrating a momentous era in Nigerian football till date; the 25th anniversary of yet-unequalled excellence; 25 years of vivid evidence that Nigeria could attain great heights with the resources we have.”
Staging the celebration, to Nnacheta, was meant to inspire the younger generation. “We want to provide a reunion for members of the USA’94 World Cup squad; to meet with the squads of 2018 and serve as motivation to this fresh generation of aspiring sports people and to afford the young generation of Nigerians and footballers to behold their heroes and enable a grateful nation reinvent itself with opportunity to rally for the future.”
To mark the event, Nnacheta said a glossy 140-page coffee table book would be launched during the occasion scheduled to hold in Lagos early January.
Also, the majority of the team within and outside the country would be present to grace the event, while top footballers in Africa and Europe will also be part of the colourful event.
For Samson Siasia, a member of the glorious team, the idea is a welcome development as this would point the way forward for others to follow.
“I must commend Mr Nnacheta for this initiative, which is not really common in our clime and I believe some of my teammates will be present to grace the event,” he enthused.“I also hope this will inspire the future generations that their efforts would be recognised for their meritorious service to the country.”