AFCON
CHRISTIAN CHUKWU AND CO STILL SPECIAL EVEN 40 YEARS AFTER!
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
How time flies! It is 40 years today since Nigeria first won the Africa Cup of Nations.
At the time, the football populace was not bugged down with English and other countries’ football, which could only be monitored then by weekly delayed transmission on television or through journals like Shoot! Magazine.
The stars known them were the heroes spreading excitements in the domestic league and making great impacts in continental competitions.
For the first time on 22 March 1980, the whole country was united under the glue of one accord provided by national sport – football.
It was truly the moment everyone had dreamt for. In a country shaken to its foundation by a 30-month civil war, recurring military rule, socio-economic problems as well as many diverse ethnic, religious and interest groups, winning the Africa Cup of Nations proved not just an event, but a glue that held the country together.
Sadly, not all the 22 members of the then Green Eagles are alive today to celebrate the 40 years of the winning of the premier continental competition.
Six of them, among them five starting XI players have gone beyond human touch.
These include goalkeeper Best Ogedegbe, Tunde Bamidele, Okey Isima, Aloysius Atuegbu and Muda Lawal. Eyo Martins, a player on the bench has also passed on.
Even the coach of the team, Professor Otto Gloria of Brazil has also gone to the world beyond.
The other great players of the squad living are craving for attention as most have long been forgotten.
They are: Skipper Christian Chukwu (69), Segun Odegbami (67), Felix Owolabi (64), David Adiele (65), Godwin Odiye (63), Adokiye Amiesimaka (63) and Emmanuel Okala (68).
Also in the epoch-making squad are: John Orlando (59), Sylvanus Okpala (58), Ifeanyi Onyeadika, Shefiu Mohammed (63), Henry Nwosu (56) and Kadiri Ikhana (68).
Others are Moses Effiong (59), Charles Bassey and Frank Onwuachi. Those are the heroes of the 12th Africa Cup of Nations in 1980, most of whom are living in obscurity now.
On the final match day, there was apprehension on the possibility of Nigeria overcoming Algeria. The fears were rooted on goal-scoring efforts of the Green Eagles who had not scored more than a goal in the preceding three matches.
The defence of the Algerians was believed to be water-tight and ably marshaled from the left rear by short Moustapha Kouici.
In one of his accounts, Segun Odegbami wrote on how he had to go for a bottle of cold beer at their Trade Fair complex to douse tension.
He reported that coach Otto Gloria too was having sleepless night as the Brazilian was seen in his chalet drawn possible opening moves by the Green Eagles.
Whatever starting moves he may have plotted apparently worked.
Within the opening two minutes of the final game, Nigeria was already a goal up. Adokie Amiesimaka took a fairly long throw, which was headed backwards to an unmarked and well-positioned Segun Odegbami in the penalty box.
The tall elegant striker just controlled the ball and lopped it over the defenders for a cheeky opening goal under two minutes of the game. Never before had a goal been scored so fast in the preceding 11 final matches.
It took another 39 years before a goal was scored within the opening two minutes of an Africa Cup of Nations final match. That was at the last year’s final involving Algeria and Senegal.
Baghdad Bounedjah stunned the Senegal Lions of Teranga with a shot, which took a wicked deflection off Salif Sane and looped over the bewildered goalkeeper Alfred Gomis and into the net.
In the 1980 final match, the fast opening goal boosted the confidence of the Green Eagles as Segun Odegbami made the Algerian defence ace, Kouici looked ordinary as he outpaced and easily dribbled past the hitherto rock of defence.
Odegbami increased the tally midway into the first half before Muda Lawal wrapped up the game to give Nigeria a 3-0 win. It was the widest margin win since Ghana’s 3-0 defeat of Sudan in 1963.
DID YOU KNOW?
That when Nigeria won the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time on 22 March 1980, it was an eternal tribute to certain Joseph Mead, the founding secretary of the country’s football governing body, NFA (now NFF). If Mead were alive, he would have been 73 on the day Nigeria beat Algeria to win the trophy for the first time.
Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe has praised Morocco’s King Mohammed VI for what he described as a powerful gesture of unity and reconciliation following the royal pardon granted to Senegalese supporters convicted over offences linked to the final match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
In a statement released on Saturday, Motsepe expressed deep appreciation on behalf of CAF’s 54 member associations, hailing the Moroccan monarch’s decision as a demonstration of football’s ability to foster peace and solidarity across the continent.
“I would like to express our deep gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, for granting His Royal Pardon to the Senegalese supporters convicted of offences relating to the final match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025,” Motsepe stated.
The CAF president said the pardon reflected Morocco’s enduring commitment to African unity and highlighted football’s growing role as a bridge between nations and cultures.
“CAF has consistently emphasised its commitment to utilise football to contribute to uniting our people from different racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds,” he said.
“The pardon by His Majesty King Mohammed VI is an uplifting and motivating illustration of the power of football to unite and bring our people together in Africa and worldwide.”
Motsepe also revealed that during recent visits to both Morocco and Senegal, he had been struck by the deep historical and cultural bonds shared by the two countries.
“I was amazed and impressed when I was briefed about the historic and extensive ties between the people of Senegal and Morocco,” he added.
The statement further reinforced Morocco’s rising influence within African football, especially after successfully hosting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and positioning itself as one of Africa’s leading football destinations ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which it will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
Motsepe also extended CAF’s best wishes to Africa’s representatives at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, expressing confidence that the continent’s teams would perform strongly on the global stage.
Among the African nations mentioned were Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Ghana, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Cape Verde and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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By Kunle Solaja.
Former African champions Algeria and Zambia are set for an early showdown after the release of the Group I fixtures for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Algeria host Zambia on Matchday One on September 21, 2026, in what is expected to be one of the headline fixtures of the qualifying campaign, while Togo entertain Burundi in the group’s other opening tie.
The Desert Foxes are favourites to qualify, but Zambia’s growing consistency and Togo’s unpredictability could make the race highly competitive.
Algeria travel to Burundi on Matchday Two before facing Togo in back-to-back encounters across Matchdays Three and Four. Zambia also meet Burundi home and away during the same period.
The potentially decisive fixture comes on March 22, 2027, when Zambia host Algeria in a clash that could determine the final standings.
Group I Fixtures
Matchday 1 — September 21, 2026
- Algeria vs Zambia
- Togo vs Burundi
Matchday 2 — October 6, 2026
- Zambia vs Togo
- Burundi vs Algeria
Matchday 3 — October 2026
- Algeria vs Togo
- Zambia vs Burundi
Matchday 4 — November 17, 2026
- Togo vs Algeria
- Burundi vs Zambia
Matchday 5 — March 22, 2027
- Zambia vs Algeria
- Burundi vs Togo
Matchday 6 — March 30, 2027
- Togo vs Zambia
- Algeria vs Burundi
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By Kunle Solaja.
African heavyweights Senegal will launch their quest for another Africa Cup of Nations appearance with a home clash against Mozambique in Group J of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
The Lions of Teranga, among the continent’s strongest teams in recent years, headline a group that also includes Sudan and Ethiopia.
Senegal host Mozambique on Matchday One on September 21, 2026, while Sudan tackle Ethiopia in the other opening encounter.
Senegal are strong favourites to dominate the group, but Sudan and Mozambique are expected to battle fiercely for qualification points.
The key fixtures may emerge in the double-header between Senegal and Sudan across Matchdays Three and Four, while Mozambique and Ethiopia also face each other home and away.
Senegal travel to Mozambique on Matchday Five before ending their campaign at home against Ethiopia on March 30, 2027.
Group J Fixtures
Matchday 1 — September 21, 2026
- Senegal vs Mozambique
- Sudan vs Ethiopia
Matchday 2 — October 6, 2026
- Mozambique vs Sudan
- Ethiopia vs Senegal
Matchday 3 — October 2026
- Senegal vs Sudan
- Mozambique vs Ethiopia
Matchday 4 — November 17, 2026
- Sudan vs Senegal
- Ethiopia vs Mozambique
Matchday 5 — March 22, 2027
- Mozambique vs Senegal
- Ethiopia vs Sudan
Matchday 6 — March 30, 2027
- Sudan vs Mozambique
- Senegal vs Ethiopia
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