AFCON
IT’S A TWIN ANNIVERSARY FOR ODEGBAMI
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
This Friday 30 October is a twin anniversary for the excellent career of Segun Odegbami, who is easily the fastest striker Nigeria ever produced.
It is exactly 44 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 international career of his club mate 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), there was never a time Odegbami was 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, this time in Constantine, Algeria in 1981. In his 43 appearances for Nigeria, he scored 21 goals which remains one of the best average for any Nigerian international till date.
It is surpassed only by that of 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 that used the Montreal Games as springboard of 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 68, Odegbami remains as relevant on Nigeria football issues as he was 39 years ago which was almost the age he hung his boots when he played his last competitive match against Zamalek of Egypt in December 1984?
His voice cannot be ignored in any discussion of football matters, be it technical, political or point-blankly, 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 aging 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.
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.
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 had not his skill?
“They used to call me sluggish striker”‘ he 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.
At the time, 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 to the inaugural National Sports Festival in 1973, he was invited to the national team under German coach, Othman Calder, in 1974.
He was merely 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.
He did not just opened 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 match had restarted.
Rovers’ players later walked off the pitch.
According to Odegbami, he was mobbed by admirers who stripped him almost to his under wears as 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
- 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
- 4, 1979 – Friendly- Nigeria 5-0 Benin – 1 goal
- January 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
AFCON
Morocco Rejects Claims of Delay, Defends Legal Process in Case Involving Senegalese Supporters
Morocco’s Public Prosecutor’s Office has firmly rejected allegations of unjustified delays and poor detention conditions in the ongoing case involving Senegalese football supporters arrested after unrest linked to a recent continental fixture in Rabat.
In an official clarification, judicial authorities described circulating claims as “unfounded,” insisting that the legal proceedings have been conducted in accordance with Moroccan law and international standards.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office categorically denied any suggestion that the case has been deliberately delayed. Authorities stated that all procedural timelines have been respected and that adjournments were made strictly within the framework of due process.
According to the statement, postponements of hearings were granted at the request of the defendants themselves to allow adequate time to prepare their defence and to ensure the presence of their legal representatives.
Judicial officials also dismissed reports alleging that the detainees were on hunger strike. They confirmed that the accused are receiving their meals regularly and that detention conditions comply with applicable regulations.
“The rumours suggesting otherwise are without basis,” the statement noted.
Authorities explained that one of the hearings was attended by a lawyer registered with a Bar Association in France. However, the absence of a consultation office in Morocco, coupled with the defendants’ preference to be tried in the presence of their chosen lawyers, led to a postponement of the hearing until February 12, 2026.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office emphasised that these postponements were legitimate and aimed at safeguarding the defendants’ right to a fair trial.
Translation and Language Support
In response to concerns about language barriers, the court confirmed that it provided a sworn French-language interpreter during proceedings. French is reportedly mastered by all defendants.
Additionally, authorities coordinated with the Deputy Consul of Senegal in Morocco to make available an interpreter in Wolof, the defendants’ mother tongue, further ensuring that they fully understood the proceedings.
Officials also clarified that Moroccan law does not require the presence of an interpreter during the preliminary investigation phase if the judicial police officer understands the language of the individual concerned, provided that official reports are read and explained to them.
The Moroccan authorities reiterated their commitment to transparency, due process and the protection of the rights of all foreign nationals within the kingdom.
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A Moroccan court on Thursday sentenced 18 Senegalese football supporters to prison terms ranging from three to 12 months after finding them guilty of hooliganism during last month’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final.
The supporters had been in pre-trial detention since 18 January, the day Senegal defeated hosts Morocco 1–0 in a tense and controversial final at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
According to the court’s ruling, nine of the defendants received one-year prison sentences and were fined 5,000 Moroccan dirhams (approximately $545). Six others were handed six-month terms alongside fines of 2,000 dirhams (about $218), while three supporters were sentenced to three months in prison and fined 1,000 dirhams (around $109).
Prosecutors had sought a maximum penalty of two years, arguing that the accused “deliberately sought to disrupt the proper conduct of the match” and engaged in “acts of violence broadcast live on television.”
Chaos at the Final
The AFCON final was overshadowed by dramatic scenes late in regulation time following a contentious penalty awarded to Morocco after a VAR review. Senegalese players protested the decision vehemently, surrounding the referee and causing play to be halted for nearly 20 minutes.
Amid the tension, some Senegalese supporters reportedly attempted to invade the pitch, while others threw objects — including chairs — onto the field. Players from both sides temporarily left the pitch before returning after intervention from security officials and match authorities.
Authorities said their case was supported by stadium surveillance footage and medical reports detailing injuries sustained by security personnel during the unrest.
However, defence lawyers rejected the charges and described the sentences as excessive.
“The footage does not contain irrefutable proof showing that any one of them struck or assaulted anyone,” defence counsel Naima El Guellaf told the court.
Another lawyer, Patrick Kabou, called the verdict “incomprehensible,” arguing that his clients were “victims” rather than perpetrators. The defence team has confirmed plans to file an appeal.
The ruling comes as football authorities continue to grapple with the fallout from a final that, despite Senegal’s historic victory, was overshadowed by controversy both on and off the pitch.
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French coach Herve Renard has reopened the debate around the controversial “towel incident” that marred the closing stages of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal.
Renard, who previously coached Morocco and now manages the Saudi Arabia national football team, addressed the episode in a recent interview with Jeune Afrique, describing it as a complex issue rooted partly in African football culture.
“The towel story is long and complicated. It has a certain significance, that’s all,” Renard said. He suggested that, if anyone attempted to remove the towel, it could have been intended to unsettle the opponent psychologically.
“In Europe, people don’t understand that there is something behind it. Was the towel charmed? In Africa, these are beliefs, and everyone is free to believe what they want,” he added.
Renard stressed that cultural context is often overlooked by outsiders. “Those who don’t know Africa cannot understand. In this case, Moroccans would never allow anyone to cross that line,” he said, while admitting he was unsure whether events unfolded exactly as widely portrayed. Drawing from his extensive coaching experience across the continent, he noted that similar charged atmospheres are not uncommon in high-stakes African fixtures.
The incident occurred during the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Final in Rabat, where Senegal defeated Morocco 1–0 to lift the continental crown.
Late in the match, attention shifted away from the ball to Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy’s towel, which had been placed inside his goal to dry his gloves amid wet conditions. As tensions rose in the closing minutes, substitute goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf attempted to safeguard the towel, resulting in a chaotic scene inside the penalty area.
Television footage — quickly dubbed a “towel tussle” — showed Moroccan midfielder Ismael Saibari blocking Diouf as he tried to return the towel to Mendy, while a ball boy also reached for it. Diouf later insisted he had merely been assisting Mendy and had no intention of disrupting play.
Images circulating after the match appeared to show Moroccan players attempting to remove the towel, sparking a heated debate. Some observers viewed it as gamesmanship designed to unsettle the Senegalese goalkeeper, while others linked the episode to longstanding superstitious beliefs within segments of African football culture.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) disciplinary committee subsequently sanctioned Saibari with a two-match suspension and a $100,000 fine. The midfielder later apologised to Mendy, stating that his actions had been misunderstood.
CAF’s refereeing chief, Olivier Safari, also addressed the matter in an interview with Canal+ Afrique.
“The towel is not part of a goalkeeper’s official equipment. Its use must remain within the spirit of fair play,” Safari explained. “If it influences the match, it must be removed from the playing area.”
His comments underscored the regulatory grey area surrounding auxiliary items such as towels, which are not formally recognised as playing equipment under the Laws of the Game but are commonly used for practical reasons.
While the final result stands and Senegal’s victory remains uncontested, the towel episode has lingered in public discourse — not merely as a fleeting controversy, but as a symbol of the psychological and cultural layers that often accompany African football.
Renard’s remarks add nuance to the debate, suggesting that what may appear trivial to some can carry deeper meaning in different footballing contexts.
Nearly a year after Senegal’s triumph in Rabat, the “towel incident” continues to provoke reflection, less about fabric inside a goalmouth, and more about the intersection of belief, psychology and competition at the highest level of African football.
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