AFCON
THIS DAY IN HISTORY: MUDA LAWAL AND KUNLE AWESU – UNITED ALIVE; BONDED IN DEATH
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Was it a sheer coincidence? Former Nigeria’s left-winger, Kunle Awesu died on a July 5 date. Another national team player and contemporary at early stage, Muda Lawal, died on July 6.
Both were former IICC Shooting Stars players. Both joined the IICC Shooting Stars from the lesser-known Housing Corporation FC of Ibadan.
Muda Lawal and Kunle Awesu hailed from Abeokuta in Ogun State. Both blossomed under the same coaches – Allan Hawkes at the IICC Shooting Stars and national coach, Jelisavicic Tihomir-Tiko aka “Father Tiko”.
Like the national coach, Father Tiko, both died early in July. Both were star performers in the 1976 Green Eagles squad that caused upset.
Muda Lawal and Kunle Awesu played prominent roles in the IICC Shooting Stars team that became the first Nigerian club to win a continental title in 1976.
In the following year, the administration of David Jemibewon set the record of being the first in Nigeria to reward a group of footballers with car gifts. Each of the registered 25-member squad of IICC was given a Volkswagen Beetle car.
Could it be a coincidence that that of Muda Lawal and Kunle Awesu had plate numbers that followed one another?
Kunle Awesu was number 16 on the list, while Muda was 17. Awesu’s car number was OY 7024 AB and that of Muda was OY 7025 AB.
In the national team, a look at most group pictures in which both players featured, they were always side-by-side.
Kunle Awesu who travelled to the US in 1978 to further his studies later graduated as a lawyer. He died in Arlington, US the same day Nigeria crashed out of USA ’94 World Cup after losing to Italy in the Round of 16.
His death was unknown to his family members in Nigeria until later 1996. He was a lawyer in the US and prior to his death had limited contact with his parents in Nigeria.
Therefore when he died, friends reportedly could not find any document to establish contact with his relations.
His mother had died in 1988 while he was in the US. His father, Pa Joseph Awesu was 81 at the time of Kunle Awesu’s death in 1994.
When contacted by Sports Village Square editor-in-chief while still with the Concord Press in 1996, the old man revealed that he last saw his son in 1978 when the left winger visited him with “his bosom friend and colleague, Muda Lawal, just before his trip to the US”, which according to the old man, was entirely packaged by Chief Lekan Salami, the players’ mentor and that of the Shooting Stars which they played for.
What a turn-around! After four previous competitive matches without a win, the Super Eagles have regained their winning mentality after a 3-0 defeat of Benin Republic in their opening 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series.
The win also put the Super Eagles at the top of the Group D after both Libya and Rwanda played 1-1 draw last Thursday.
It is also the biggest win by the Super Eagles since their 2023 6-0 win over Sao Tome & Principe last year September.
Great man Ademola Lookman, he put in two goals straightening the possibility of his emerging as 2024 African Footballer of the Year.
The current title holder, Victor Osimhen proved his mettle coming off the bench in the second half to double Nigeria’s lead after Lookman’s late first half goal.
The Super Eagles will now honour their next fixture against Rwanda on Tuesday with the hope of consolidating their lead.
Benin Republic with no points and a deficit of three goals are rooted at the bottom of the log.
BY JOSEPH ODOEKWU
The National Chairman of the Nigerian Football Supporters Club (NFSC), Rev. Samuel Ikpea has called on all Nigerians to rally round and pray for the Super Eagles ahead of Saturday’s Morocco 2025 AFCON qualifier against Benin Republic in Uyo.
Ikpea who is mobilizing support for the Super Eagles ahead of the clash in Uyo said that whatever Benin Republic come with both spiritually and physically in the game, we will surely overcome them.
“In the NFSC we have Christians, Muslims as well as those who believe in traditional worship and we respect the rights of freedom of worship of every member and all Nigerians.
“When we are faced with this kind of crucial game, we call on everyone to pray through their various believes because we foresee that Benin Republic are most likely coming to fall back on ‘black magic’ to enable them perfect a back-to-back victory over our Super Eagles after beating us 2-1 in our last meeting in a World Cup qualifier”
“We cannot underestimate the efficacy of the black magic” Ikpea further stressed, “but we believe that when we come together we can neutralize it’s efficacy.
“This is no time to sleep, we all have to rally round and do our best to support our Super Eagles because they cannot do it alone without the prayers and support of all Nigerians.
“While charging Nigerians to be positive with the team, we at the NFSC have done everything positive to overturn whatever plans they are coming with and we enjoin everyone to toe that path through prayers”.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles camp is bubbling with training in Uyo, as team Coach Austin Eguavoen, has been working hard to perfect tactics with the boys and ensure the Super Eagles soar on Saturday.
The Super Eagles have not won a qualifying match for any competition since their 6-0 defeat of Principe & Sao Tome on 10th September 2023 in Uyo. That was their last qualifying match for Cote d’Ivoire 2023 played in 2024.
Since then, they have played four World Cup qualifying matches without a win despite being the overwhelming favourites at those matches.
A forensic analysis of their World Cup qualifying since that of Qatar 2022 will reveal they had played seven consecutive matches without a win starting from their 1-1 home draw with Cape Verde in Lagos which qualified them for the play off. In the play off with Ghana, the Super Eagles drew the two matches.
In the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, they have gone four matches, getting three draws and a loss. The prospect of their getting a straight qualification from the group is doubtful as they have a mountain to climb by winning the remaining six matches, three of which are away duels of which are most likely to be played in South Africa, the home ground of their main rivals.
Zimbabwe and Lesotho play their home matches in South Africa and Nigeria also still have an away duel with Bafana Bafana.
The qualification series of AFCON 2025 presents the Super Eagles a new beginning. Starting from the semi-finals of the AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire, the team has won none of their four competitive matches in regulation time. The players have a date with destiny in Uyo this Saturday to wipe off the sagging image they have had in recent time.
A win will give the team the confidence expected in anticipation for future fixtures.
What a goal-laden day for Nigeria; Falconets also win with wide margin!
Hurray, Super Eagles back to winning ways!
‘Oh Come All Ye Faithful!’, Rev Ikpea calls on football fans to rally round Super Eagles
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