IKENWA NNABUOGOR recalls some of the celebrated name mix-ups in Nigeria football and how some have since stuck…
The mistakes in players’ names may have dated for as long as players’ documentation started, but FIFA rule of having players’ names emblazoned on their backs helped put it in the full public glare.
Funny enough these mistakes brought more luck to some of the players, while some unlucky ones have sadly gone into oblivion, though most times their misfortunes were not caused by mix-ups in their names.
One of the most celebrated cases is that of Mikel Obi.
The Stoke City midfielder rode on the luck of the NFF’s blunder to gain international recognition and ultimately signed out his international career captaining his country’s team.
He was christened Michael Nchekwube Obi by his Jos-based parents, but it was at U17 level that he was re-christened “Mikel” by an NFF official who gave his name as Mikel instead of Michael at the Nigeria Immigration Service during his U17 days.
Mikel is Spanish language’s version of Michael and the former Chelsea midfielder adopted the name and he is still enjoying the fortunes the name may have brought him.
Could he now be thanking the NFF official for the “lucky” mistake on his international passport?
The Babayaros – Emmanuel and Celestine – another good case of name mistake and an NFF official was also behind this.
Stories behind this mistake, according to a reliable source, remained funny and destined to happen.
Both players were mentored by prominent Kaduna-based football administrator and former Chairman of Kaduna United, who was instrumental to their inclusion in the U17 team that conquered the world in Japan in 1993.
It is an open secret that the brothers hail from Nkwerre in Imo State, though born and bred in Kaduna. Their original names are Emmanuel and Celestine Hyacinth Iwuoha.
Emmanuel, goalkeeper and senior of the Babayaros was the first to hit the Oba Camp of the all-conquering Golden Eaglets side, only to be joined by his younger sibling, Celestine, much later before they jetted out to the Far East.
Having another Emmanuel, the first choice goalkeeper in camp, their first names were a bit confusing and when it was time for getting them international passports, the NFF official ignorantly forgot to ask for his surname and went on ahead to rename him Babayaro because of the influence of Sabo Babayaro who brought him.
When Celestine joined up later and beating the time to join up with the team for an international engagement, his passport was hurriedly processed with the same name Babayaro.
That was how the name Babayaro stuck and the younger Celestine will go on to make a name for himself playing for Anderlecht, Chelsea and Newcastle United, while also posting some memorable Super Eagles performances.
His older brother was not that successful, but still had a winners’ medal from the U17 World Cup and 1996 Olympics to show for his sweat.
The funny tales of NFF administrative blunders also got former Golden Eaglets left back Usman Amodu in a name mix-up mess.
His surname had been replaced with Amoda and the former Warri Wolves defender had no choice than to wear his “new” at the back of his shirt at Korea 2007 U-17 World Cup.
If Amodu’s case was funny, Ambrose Uanzekin’s has had him bear his mistaken surname Vanzekin even till date, even as Amodu’s was corrected to his original name in further international competitions he played in.
The Edo State native stuck with the name even at club level where he represented Heartland, Plateau United and Akwa United.
Former Super Eagles Garba Lawal’s case was embarrassing as his passport had a title attached to his name – Mr. Garba Lawal – making his case the most unique administrative blunder in world football.
Football watchers were amused to see the title ‘Mr’ accompanying his names when TV showed line ups and whenever the cameras beamed on him.
CSKA Moscow new signing Chidera Ejuke recently voiced out his embarrassment at his mis-spelt name Ejuke instead of Ejike that has become his identity since this international passport was procured for him by a NFF official.
His name Ejike was replaced with Ejuke during his U17 days in 2013 and the new name has even been documented by FIFA.
Still in Moscow, Ejuke’s case is similar to Dinamo Moscow striker Sylvester Igboun whose name had the letters U and N juxtaposed.
It is not clear how he managed to get his name mis-spelt, but it appears it may have happened when he transferred from Nigeria’s Ebiede FC to Danish side FC Midtylland Academy.
The Agege-born, Imo State native has had to deal with the badly mis-spelt name as it is well documented at all football levels.
Former Flying Eagles defender Emmanuel Izuagha is also another victim of NFF’s numerous administrative blunders.
His was that his surname was completely omitted leaving with just his two first names – Ejike Emmanuel.
Rheindorf Altach new signing Chinedu Obasi is similar to the Babayaros, having ridden on the influence of former Enugu Rangers Secretary late Felix Ogbuke Senior, who facilitated his invitation to the U17 national team.
Precociously talented, Obasi had jumped into Ganiyu Salami’s 2003 U17 side on recommendation of Ogbuke and amazingly scored all the three goals despite coming on as a second half substitute for injured captain Ezekiel Bala in one of their friendly games against a selected side at the Navy sandy ground at Ajegunle, Lagos.
The former Schalke had to join the team to South Africa for a qualifier and his passport was hurriedly procured with his Ogbuke adopted name as his surname.
Ogbuke would stick as the former Golden Eaglet went on to represent his country at the Holland 2005 U20 World Cup where he helped his country finish second best behind Argentina.
He would revert to his original name – Obasi – and wore an Obasi shirt at Beijing 2008 Olympics and 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Fans were left wondering which is former Super Eagles captain Okechukwu Uche’s surname.
He wore Uche and Okechukwu interchangeably, leaving the fans wondering which is his surname.
The former Fenerbache central defender’s actual surname is Uche, but NFF would most times have Okechukwu at the back of his shirt during international engagements.
