Could you recall the day when a team described as “Nigerian forgotten XI” thrashed a star-studded Belgium team who boasted the likes of Maroune Felliani and Vincent Kompany?
It was the semifinal of the 2008 Beijing Olympics in China.
A special report by HLN recounted the match, which ended 4-1 in favour of Nigeria.
The report also attempted to compare what became of the careers of the Nigerian players who shone on that day to that of the Likes of Felliani, Kompany, Moussa Dembele, Vertonghen and Mirallas, who all went on to play in the Premier League and established themselves with Belgium at full international level.
On the Nigerian team that day were the likes of goalkeeper Ambrose Vanzekin, who could not take his football overseas; Chibuzor Okonkwo, who was described in the report as “the cheap one” because he could only attract $50,000 when he moved to Libya and “forever injured” Onyekachi Apam, who moved to France after the Olympics but niggling injuries cut short a promising career.
Central defender Dele Adeleye was dubbed “the globetrotter” after he played in Russia, Ukraine, Holland Kazakhstan and Greece.
This was what the HLN report said of the other Nigerian players –
Sani Kaita – Received 1,000 death threats after he was sent off and Greece defeated Nigeria at the 2010 World Cup
Femi Ajilore – Ended his career in Danish third division in 2016
Olubayo Adefemi – Lost his life in April 2011 in Greece in a crash. He played for as many as 10 foreign clubs in 10 years.
Solomon Okoronkwo – Now plays in the fifth division in Germany years after Bundesliga club Hertha Berlin sold him to Russian club Saturn for 1.4 million Euros before the Olympics
Obinna Nsofor – Failed to fulfill his potentials after stints in Italy, Spain, England and Russia. He hung up his boots in 2018 after South African club terminated his contract
Chinedu Obasi – He played for Hoffenheim and Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga but injuries ensured he did not enjoy the top career that he was tipped for
Osaze Odemwingie – Best known in Belgium having started at La Louviere between 2002 and 2004. He will go on to shine in France, Russia and England. He scored 11 goals and won 62 caps for the Super Eagles.
BELGIUM vs Nigeria: Bailly, De Roover, Simaeys, Vertonghen, Pocognoli, De Mul (74 ′ Mulemo), Haroun, Vanden Borre, Martens (63 ′ Mulemo), Dembélé, Mirallas (74 ′ Ciman).
GOALS: 18 ′ Adefemi (0-1), 57 ′ and 72 ′ Obasi (0-2 and 0-3), 80 ′ Okonkwo (0-4), 88 ′ Ciman (1-4).
