Nigerian Football
Odegbami has a twin anniversary today
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
It is a rarity for footballers to have double anniversaries on one date. That is not the case with Nigeria’s best-ever right winger, Segun Odegbami who has a two-in-one celebration today, This Wednesday 30 October is the twin anniversary of the excellent career of Segun Odegbami, who is easily the fastest striker Nigeria ever produced.
It is exactly 48 years this October 30 when the leggy striker scored the first of his 21 goals for Nigeria. It was in a World Cup qualifier against Sierra Leone at the National Stadium, Lagos.
Odegbami opened scoring in the 6-2 rout of Sierra Leone and offered assists in two other goals in the match that also marked the end of the international career of his clubmate and the then-best left winger for Africa, Kunle Awesu.
It was the 30 October 1976 match that established Odegbami as the undisputed lead striker for Nigeria and his domineering presence in the Nigeria strike force endured for exactly the next five years.
Since his going in as a substitute for Baba Otu Mohammed in the first leg match (played on 16 October 1976), Odegbami was never in camp without tasting action.
He was to play 42 more matches for the national team which he later captained. In an irony of fate, the same 30 October marks the last time the legendary striker played for Nigeria.
Incidentally, it was also a World Cup qualifying match, in Constantine, Algeria in 1981.
He holds the best goal average per match
In his 43 appearances for Nigeria, he scored 21 goals which remains one of the best averages for any Nigerian international till date.
It is surpassed only by his later date club-mate in the then IICC Shooting Stars, Rashidi Yekini, who scored 37 goals in 60 appearances for Nigeria.
As glorious as Segun Odegbami’s football career was, he sadly did not have adequate playing time to exhibit his skills at global level and out of the continent’s shores, at least, at grade A match level.
He was only able to play for 45 minutes in the 1980 Olympic Games duel with eventual champions; Czechoslovakia in a match Nigeria drew 1-1. He wore the unfamiliar jersey number 13 and was replaced a minute into the second half by Raccah Rovers’ Shefiu Mohammed.
On three other instances, he was close to playing at global level, but failed.
The first instance would have been at the Montreal 1976 Olympics where he was set to blossom before the politically motivated boycott aborted the dream of the then Green Eagles who were believed to be in their best elements, judging from their pre-tournament form and the 4-0 defeat of hosts, Canada in a friendly match.
Incidentally, it was the same Montreal Olympics that France’ Michel Platini made his international debut.
Other global figures who used the Montreal Games as springboard of their international career are Spanish goalkeeper, Luis Arconada and Mexico’s Hugo Sanchez.
Odegbami’s second miss of featuring at the world level was the agonizing missing of Nigeria from the Argentina 1978 World Cup when an Odegbami-inspired Green Eagles suddenly failed at home in their final duel with Tunisia.
No thanks to the famed own goal scored by a hitherto reliable defender, Godwin Odiye. Failure to qualify for Spain ’82 at the last hurdle marked the end of the international career of Odegbami.
Even today, at 72, Odegbami remains as relevant on Nigeria’s football issues as he was 48 years ago. He hung his boots when he played his last competitive match for IICC Shooting Stars against Zamalek of Egypt in December 1984?
His voice cannot be ignored in any discussion of football matters, whether is technical, political or point-blankly, or administrative.
He had made several attempts to join the class of Michel Platini and Franz Beckenbauer in transiting from the pitch to the board room.
The athletic figure of Segun Odegbami, one of Nigeria’s greatest sportsmen of all time is unmistaken. Slim, tall and often wavering as he towerly takes pacy steps Odegbami remains an icon.
Perhaps, nothing physical has changed much in him when compared with his active playing days in the mid-1970s up to the same period in the 80s.
The only sign of ageing is perhaps the thinning hairs which make him wear a clean-shaven head. He has however been constantly visible in sports scenes, even years after his football career ended.
Mr Mathematical
The inimitable sports commentator, Ernest Okonkwo, nicknamed him “Mathematical” for his wonderful acceleration and precision crosses from the right flank.
Standing at 1.8 metres with a leggy stature and looking very lanky, he could not have been anybody’s idea of a perfect striker in those days.
Odegbami was a sluggish striker
Just few notable Nigerian strikers before him had that almost fragile stature. But he rose to be acknowledged as a continental soccer icon. What impact did his tall physique have not his skill?
“They used to call me sluggish striker” ‘ he once said while recalling his humble beginning as a club player in Ibadan, where he attended The Polytechnic, Ibadan and featured for Housing Corporation before his skills attracted attention from the bigger IICC Shooting Stars in 1974.
He also featured for the Western State team at the first National Sports Festival in 1973.
When he joined the IICC Shooting Stars, he was an inside left player often in jersey number 10 and a support striker playing behind the thunderbolt-shot gifted Moses Otolorin.
Truly, on account of his stature, just like that of the later-day Nwankwo Kanu, he would need space to get perfect control of the ball.
But the tip-tap football that the Shooting Stars were noted for at the time, as opposed to that of kick and rush of Enugu Rangers, seemed okay for the sluggish offensive.
At least that was good enough for him for his skills to be noted when as a member of the Western State team at the inaugural National Sports Festival in 1973, he was invited to the national team under German coach, Othman Calder, in December 1974.
He was just like a snake that moved on rocks without leaving a mark. It would take another 48 months for Odegbami to get to national prominence.
On account of academic pursuit, he agonizingly missed the final match of the 1975 Challenge when IICC Shooting Stars lost 1-0 to Enugu Rangers.
Transformation to speedy striker
Segun Odegbami will also point to any inquisitive journalist that the match against Sierra Leone was the turning point in his international career.
According to Odegbami, who was on the reserve bench in the first leg match in Freetown, the plan of the coach was to bring him in as a substitute for Solomon Oriakhi.
But the plans changed following the drop in form of Baba Otu Mohammed who was featuring on the right wing.
Odegbami was brought in the 42nd minute to replace him and he was quite impressive. “During the training sessions for the return leg, Coach Father Tiko discovered I could be effective on the right wing.
“He instructed me to practice running down the flank and then pulled out towards the goal. I did this several times during the training sessions and it proved effective in the match”, remarked Odegbami.
Odegbami’s first goal for Nigeria
He did not just open scoring in the 25th minute of the match, his other crosses after leaving the left rear guards of the Sierra Leoneans stranded led to Aloysius Atuegbu scoring a brace and Kelechi Emeteole scoring another goal.
For the records, the opening goal was the first of Odegbami’s 21 international goals.
From that moment, he became the speedy right-winger whose effectiveness for both the national team as well as his club, the Shooting Stars, remains unrivalled till today.
Of his goals in international matches, Odegbami rates the goal he scored in Bouake against Côte d’Ivoire in a July 27, 1977 World Cup qualifier as his best.
The goal was the first for Nigeria in a 2-2 draw as the Green Eagles rallied from two goal deficits.
Left winger, Adokiye Amiesimaka levelled up for Nigeria almost in the same fashion that Odegbami scored the first goal.
At the club level, Odegbami rated the goal he scored for Shooting Stars against Maghreb Fez of Morocco in the 1-1 drawn quarter-finals of the 1984 Africa Cup of Champions Clubs as his best.
Shooting Stars won the return leg 4-1 in Ibadan to advance 5-2 on aggregate.
Years ago, recalling some of the memorable moments he had in his playing days, Odegbami spoke of the odd timing of the 1977 Challenge Cup final match of IICC Shooting Stars and the defunct Raccah Rovers of Kano that was played Sunday morning to enable Nigeria beat the CAF deadline for registration for the 1978 Africa Cup Winners competition.
Shooting Stars won the ill-tempered match 1-0 from an Odegbami’s goal which Rovers’ officials were to contest much later after the match had restarted.
Rovers’ players later walked off the pitch.
According to Odegbami, he was mobbed by admirers who stripped him almost to his underwear as the team inched its way back to a hotel in Sam Shonibare Street, Surulere where it lodged.
Odegbami’s 21 goals for Nigeria
- Oct.30, 1976 – World Cup qualifier- Nigeria 6-2 Sierra Leone – 1 goal
- March 26, 1977 – Afcon qualifier- Nigeria 2-0 Sierra Leone – 2 goals
- June 25, 1977 – Afcon qualifier Nigeria 3-0 Senegal – 1 goal
- July 27, 1977 – World Cup qualifier – Nigeria 2-2 Cote d’Ivoire –1 goal
- August 27, 1977 – ECOWAS Games- Nigeria 2-0 Sierra Leone – 2 goals
- October 8, 1977 – World Cup qualifier- Nigeria 4-0 Egypt –2 goals
- Jan 14, 1978 – All Africa Games qualifier – Nigeria 7-0 Benin – 3 goals
- Jan 17, 1978 – All Africa Games qualifier – Nigeria 2-0 Benin – 1 goal
- March 5, 1978 – Africa Cup of Nations – Nigeria 4-2 B/Faso – 2 goals
- March 8, 1978 – Africa Cup of Nations – Nigeria 1-1 Ghana – 1 goal
- Nov. 4, 1979 – Friendly- Nigeria 5-0 Benin – 1 goal
- Jan. 26, 1980 – Friendly Nigeria 1-0 Liberia – 1 goal
- March 8, 1980 – Africa Cup of Nations- Nigeria 3-1 Tanzania – 1 goal
- March 22, 1980 – Africa Cup of Nations Nigeria 3-0 Algeria – 2 goals
By Kunle Solaja.
Sixty-eight years after the foundation was laid for what became the first modern stadium in West Africa, the historic Liberty Stadium, now known as Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, stands today as a symbol of Nigeria’s sporting heritage, though largely sustained by memories of its glorious past.
Wednesday, March 11, 2026, marks 68 years since the foundation-laying ceremony of the iconic arena conceived by the government of the former Western Region to commemorate the region’s attainment of self-government. The stadium was later renamed after the region’s premier, Obafemi Awolowo, whose administration championed the project.
Despite its historical significance, the once-celebrated sporting complex has suffered decades of neglect, particularly after its takeover by the Federal Government in 1976. Today, the arena that once earned the reputation as the “Pride of Africa” largely survives on memories of the landmark events it hosted.
The Nigerian national team last played at the stadium on July 9, 1983, defeating Togo 2–1 in a qualifying match for the 1984 Summer Olympics football tournament.
Liberty Stadium occupies about 40 acres of a 75-acre hillside site that rises gradually toward the northeast summit. Construction of the facility cost £521,050, with an additional £38,000 spent on land acquisition and £35,000 on building the approach road.
The idea for the stadium was conceived in 1957 by Gabriel Akin-Deko, then the Western Region’s Minister of Agriculture. The regional government subsequently established a planning committee comprising ministers and sports administrators, including J.O. Adigun, J.O. Oshuntokun, and J.O. Adebiyi, alongside athletics representatives Chief J.O. Ajiwunmi and J.B. Ojo.
The stadium was designed by chartered architect J.E.K. Harrison in collaboration with the Western Region Ministry of Works and Transport. Construction was carried out through direct labour by the ministry, with structural engineering support from Ove Arup and Partners and steel works executed by the Nigerian Steel Construction Company.
Officially opened on September 30, 1960—on the eve of Nigeria’s independence—the stadium quickly established itself as a major sporting venue. Its first international match came two days later when the Ghana national football team defeated Mali 5–1 in a semi-final match of the Kwame Nkrumah Cup on October 2, 1960. Ghana’s Aggrey Fynn scored after 15 minutes, becoming the first player to score in a full international match at the venue.
The stadium also hosted Nigeria’s first floodlit football match on October 11, 1960, when the Western Region team, Western Rovers, defeated Portuguese Guinea—now Guinea-Bissau—3–2.
Technologically advanced for its time, the stadium featured an underground drainage system designed to disperse heavy rain without flooding the pitch. The playing surface was meticulously maintained by Joseph Ogunyemi, the first Nigerian trained and appointed as stadium manager.
Before assuming the role in December 1959, Ogunyemi underwent 18 months of specialist training at major British sporting venues, including Wembley Stadium and White City Stadium, as well as the athletics ground of the University of London. He also attended technical courses in Paris and at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.
However, his departure coincided with the gradual deterioration of the once-lush playing field, which became plagued by aridity, weed encroachment and neglect, symbolic of the wider decline of the historic facility.
Today, as Liberty Stadium marks another anniversary, it remains a monument to a visionary era in Nigerian sports infrastructure, one whose legacy still resonates even as the facility awaits meaningful revival.
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Nigerian footballer Daniel Daga has been sentenced to six months in prison by a Norwegian court after being found guilty of committing a sexual act without consent.
The verdict was delivered on Tuesday by the Nordmøre og Romsdal District Court following a case linked to an incident reported in April 2025.
According to Norwegian broadcaster TV 2, the 19-year-old midfielder was also ordered to pay 10,000 Norwegian kroner (about $900) in legal costs, a sentence that reportedly aligned with the prosecution’s request.
Daga, who plays for Molde FK, has denied wrongdoing and plans to appeal the decision.
His lawyer, Astrid Bolstad, said the player was deeply disappointed with the ruling and insists the encounter was consensual.
“He is very upset about the verdict. He believes he is innocent and that everything happened with consent,” Bolstad said, adding that the verdict is not yet legally binding and will be challenged.
Under Norwegian legal procedures, the case remains open until the appeal process is concluded.
Club Responds
Molde FK confirmed it was aware of the court’s decision and said the player would not be included in the club’s matchday squad for the time being.
“This is a very difficult case for everyone involved,” the club said in a statement.
“As an employer, Molde Football Club has a responsibility to take care of our employees in a responsible manner while also having great respect for the seriousness of the case and the burden it places on all affected parties.”
The club had earlier suspended Daga from training and matches in December 2025 while the legal proceedings were ongoing.
Rising Nigerian Prospect
Daga joined Molde ahead of the 2025 season from Enyimba FC, one of Nigeria’s most successful clubs.
Before moving to Europe, he had featured in the Nigeria Premier Football League after earlier spells with FC One Rocket and Dakkada FC.
At international level, the midfielder represented the Nigeria U‑20 national team and was the youngest player named in the squad for the 2023 FIFA U‑20 World Cup.
He started every match for Nigeria until the team was eliminated in the quarter-finals by South Korea.
Since arriving in Norway, Daga has made 17 appearances for Molde, scoring three goals and establishing himself as one of the promising young African players in the Scandinavian league.
Reaction from Fans
The case has generated strong reactions among Nigerian football fans, many expressing shock and disappointment while drawing comparisons with similar incidents involving young African players in Europe.
Some supporters have also highlighted the broader challenges faced by emerging African talents playing abroad.
For now, Daga’s immediate future in Norwegian football remains uncertain as he prepares to challenge the court’s decision through the appeal process.
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By Kunle Solaja.
Nigeria’s planned participation in a four-nation invitational tournament later this month is facing serious uncertainty after a significant escalation in Middle Eastern tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
The Super Eagles were scheduled to compete in Amman, Jordan, from March 27 to 31, alongside Iran, Jordan and Costa Rica, as part of preparations for future competitive fixtures and squad building. But recent geopolitical developments have cast doubt over whether the event can still go ahead as planned.
An official of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed to Sports Village Square that the situation is being closely monitored, with security and travel concerns emerging as key factors in deciding the tournament’s fate.
The doubts stem from joint military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran, which triggered a sharp escalation in hostilities and sparked retaliatory actions across the region, including reports of attacks and counter-attacks in neighbouring countries.
The unfolding crisis has already led to airspace closures, flight cancellations and broader travel disruptions in the Gulf and Levant, complicating international travel plans for teams and supporters alike.
The Super Eagles had planned to open the tournament against Iran on March 27 at the Amman International Stadium before facing hosts Jordan four days later. However, Iran’s participation itself is now in question as the security situation deepens and Iranian football authorities weigh their options amid the conflict.
The tournament was seen as a valuable opportunity for head coach Eric Chelle to assess his squad in a competitive setting before the next major competitions, which include the 2027 Afcon qualifiers.
Jordan, who will make their own debut at the 2026 World Cup, was using the event to build momentum on home soil, but the escalating crisis places not just Nigeria’s fixtures at risk, but the entire mini-tournament.
The NFF has not yet announced an alternative plan should the tournament be cancelled or postponed.
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