International Football
FLASHBACK: SIASIA’S BIG MISS AS AUSTIN OKOCHA DEBUTS FOR SUPER EAGLES
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
It is 27 years today that maverick midfielder, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha made his Super Eagles’ debut. It was in a 2 March 1993 World Cup qualifying match Nigeria played against Cote d’Ivoire in Abidjan.
One of the high points of the match was the possible goal chance that Samson Siasia lost in a match that could have given Nigeria a winning head-start in the triangular league involving Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire and Algeria.
Nigeria lost the match as the hosts came from a goal down to win 2-1. Since, and for 13 years, Okocha was a recurring decimal in the Nigerian national team, making 70 appearances and also became the captain of the team.
Even though, like Goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama who was also a skipper, he made appearances in three editions of the World Cup, Okocha is the Nigerian player with most appearances having featured in 11 of Nigeria’s World Cup matches.
Enyeama featured in eight, comprising of one at the 2002 edition, three in 2010 and four at Brazil 2014.
Okocha had earlier featured for the Flying Eagles in Nigeria’s failed title bid at the 1991 African Youth Championships in Mauritius.
Even though often well recalled, as the worst goal-miss is the 63rd minute chance for Nigeria to draw level in a World Cup match with South Korea in 2010 after the Korean goalkeeper was helplessly sprawling on the turf, Yakubu Aiyegbeni surprisingly missed target of an empty net from about three metres.
However, on this date, 2 May 1993, as Nigeria took the lead through Rashidi Yekini in an away World Cup qualifier against Cote d’Ivoire, the Super Eagles could have consolidated their lead mid way into the second half when a defence-splitting pass came to Samson Siasia.
With Ivorien goalkeeper, Alain Gouamene already beaten, Siasia blundered with the chance as he opted to convert it instead of passing to an unmarked and better-positioned Yekini.
Cote d’Ivoire later drew level and went ahead to win 2-1. Siasia returned home to be roundly vilified by fans and the press.
Amid the controversy over Senegal being stripped of the Africa Cup of Nations title and Morocco being declared winners, the international debut of Issa Diop on Friday proved something of an irony as well as a public relations coup.
The Fulham defender was born in France and played for the country at the Under-21 level, but on Thursday had his application to switch nationality to Morocco approved by world football’s governing body FIFA and was immediately drafted into the starting line-up for the 1-1 draw against Ecuador in Madrid.
Diop, whose father is Senegalese and mother from Morocco, had previously rejected overtures from both countries to play for them while holding out hope he might represent France.
The 29-year-old said several times he wanted to play for Les Bleus, but with no call-up from France coach Didier Deschamps, he has now taken up the opportunity to possibly play at the World Cup for Morocco.
“I was very happy to play in a team with a lot of good players, and I think I’ve made a good choice,” Diop said after Friday’s match.
Diop had talks with Morocco’s new coach, Mohamed Ouahbi and Moroccan Federation President Faouzi Lekjaa.
“They explained their vision to me, and I was taken in with open arms by a cheerful group of players with a great atmosphere in the camp,” he said.
The North Africans have a track record of assiduously courting players with links to the country who they believe can improve their national team, but this is the first tug-of-war over player loyalty with another African country they have won.
Senegal also draw heavily on their diaspora in France, and the 28-man squad which won the Cup of Nations in Morocco in January featured 12 French-born players.
Senegal this week formally contested the decision of the Confederation of African Football’s Appeal Board to take the title away from them.
They were ruled to have forfeited the final in Rabat on January 18 because they walked off the pitch in protest at a potentially decisive penalty awarded to Morocco, but have now referred the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The posturing between the two countries continued on Friday when Senegal held a press conference ahead of Saturday’s friendly against Peru in front of a banner that read “Champions of Africa”.
They are expected to display the Cup of Nations trophy to supporters ahead of the match at the Stade de France.
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Nigeria’s Super Eagles secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Iran in an international friendly concluded on Friday in Belek, Turkey, boosting confidence ahead of upcoming competitive fixtures.
In a match played against the backdrop of geopolitical tension surrounding the Iranian team’s World Cup preparations, Nigeria showed greater composure in key moments to emerge deserved winners.
The Super Eagles took the lead in the first half after a lively start, through Moses Simon in the 7th minute.
Nigeria doubled the lead through Akor Adams in the 51st minute. Iran reduced the deficit in the 67th minute through Medhi Taremi.
The encounter was Nigeria’s first meeting with Iran since their goalless draw at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and it provided an important test for the technical crew as they assess player combinations and tactical options.
The match also carried added attention following Iran’s pre-game protest gesture, where players wore black armbands and held schoolbags in solidarity with victims of a recent conflict-related incident.
For Nigeria, the result offers a positive platform as preparations continue, with another friendly against Jordan scheduled in the coming days. The win is expected to strengthen morale within the squad while giving the coaching crew clearer insight into the team’s readiness for future challenges.
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French soccer icon Zinedine Zidane has agreed to take over his national team’s head coaching duties following this summer’s FIFA World Cup, ESPN reported Monday.
Zidane, 53, reportedly reached a verbal agreement with the Federation Francaise de Football to replace Didier Deschamps, who has held the role since 2012.
Zidane, who managed La Liga powerhouse Real Madrid for two stints (2016-18, 2019-21), has long been expected to eventually become the skipper for France.
As a player, the dynamic midfielder won the 1998 Ballon d’Or and was a three-time FIFA World Player of the Year (1998, 2000 and 2003). He helped France win the World Cup in 1998 and finish second in 2006. He was infamously sent off during the final of the 2006 World Cup when he headbutted Italy’s Marco Materazzi in the chest.
-Reuters
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