Nigerian Football
EXCLUSIVE! Nigeria’s Super Eagles clocks 75 today
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
It is 75 years today since that 26 June 1949 date that what is today known as Super Eagles, Nigeria’s lead sports brand, was first composed. Logically, the Super Eagles clock 75 years today. In 1949, the assembly was initially called the ‘International Group’ and later named the ‘UK Tourists’.
That was when the first Nigeria national team was composed.
Five years ago, on the same day, they defeated Guinea 1-0 to become the first of the 24 teams to advance beyond the group stage of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
For the records, after four trial matches involving teams from the North, East, West and Lagos, the Selection Committee of the then Nigeria Football Association (NFA) on 26 June 1949, announced 17 names as the first set of players of the Nigeria national team. The 18th player was named five days later.
The players announced were: Goalkeepers – Sam Ibiam (Port Harcourt), Isaac Akioye (Ibadan); Defenders – Justin Onwudiwe (Lagos Railway), Olisa Chukwura (Abeokuta), Ahmed Tijani B. Ottun (Lagos Marine), Isiaku Shittu (Lagos UAC), John Dankaro (Jos), Hope Lawson (Lagos Marine) and Dan Anyiam (Lagos UAC).
Forwards – Mesembe Otu (Lagos Marine), Peter Anieke (Lagos Railway), Sokari Dokubo (Lagos Railway), Edet Ebenezer (Port Harcourt), Godwin Anosike (Lagos Railway), Etim Richard Henshaw (Lagos Marine), Tesilimi Balogun (Lagos Railway) and Titus Okere (Lagos Railway).
The 17th and controversial choice of player, Okoronkwo Kanoo was announced five days later and being the most literate, he was made a player/secretary to the team.
Super Eagles @ 70 book chronicles the Nigerian national football team across seven decades
The team manager was Captain Donald H. Holley, who was also the chairman of the NFA.
The intention was to raise a team that embarked on a goodwill tour of the United Kingdom in August.
For this reason, the national cup, Governors Cup traditionally played in the first week of November, had to be played that time on 28 May 1949 to enable regions to raise teams from where the national team was selected.
That is the origin of the Nigeria national football team, which had been variously named the UK Tourists, the International Group, the Red Devils, the Green Eagles and now the Super Eagles!
There was controversy over the choice of team captain. Pundits believed that since Lagos Railway supplied the bulk of the players, seven; the captain should naturally be Titus Okere, the captain of the club.
Six of the seven Railway players constituted the famed ‘Urion Line’ believed to be the most potent attacking force put together the club chairman, Mr. U.G Urion.
But the team selectors remarked that Okere, being an attacking left-winger would not be able to control the team from that position. Etim Henshaw was chosen as the captain.
There was also the clamour for the inclusion of schoolboy sensation, Taiwo Gbajabiamila of the Methodist Boys High School, Lagos. Yet others called for inclusion of four expatriate players from the Lagos European League.
A book chronicling the odyssey of the team from 1949 till its 70th anniversary in 2019, written by football diarist, Kunle Solaja, has been published and printed and is still available to the public at N10 thousand a copy.
The book is saga of the Nigerian team in its first 70 years. The release of the 17 names 75 years ago was in preparation for the country’s first properly organized national team, different from the previous Lagos IX that had engaged in matches with Accra IX.
Rivers United head coach and technical manager, Finidi George, has praised young defender Ochiobi Elias following his outstanding performance in the club’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Niger Tornadoes in a rescheduled Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) fixture on Wednesday at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt.
The left-back, who played the full 90 minutes, was instrumental in helping Rivers United maintain a clean sheet, marking one of his most confident outings since his promotion to the senior squad.
Finidi, visibly impressed after the match, revealed that his decision to give Elias a full game was driven by trust in the player’s potential, despite his limited minutes earlier in the season.
“I think he did well. Normally, we should have been bringing him in gradually — maybe 15 minutes before giving him a 90-minute match,” Finidi said. “But I trust him, and I’ve spoken to him. He should be relaxed, calm down, and play his football.”
The coach also highlighted a near-miss moment when Elias came close to scoring late in the game, a chance Finidi felt could have crowned his stellar performance.
“I think today he would have scored a goal at the last moment, but he still wanted to square the ball, look for somebody,” Finidi added. “I’m quite happy with his performance, and we will keep encouraging him to do better. I am very, very pleased.”
Elias, a product of the Rivers United youth team that won the NPFL Youth League in 2024, has been gradually integrated into the first team under Finidi’s guidance. His performance on Wednesday is seen as a major step forward in his development and a sign of his growing confidence.
The youngster is now expected to retain his place in the squad as Rivers United travel to Aba this Sunday for a crucial NPFL clash against Enyimba.
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Strategic partners of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on the President Federation Cup, GTI Group, have congratulated the football governing body on the successful hosting of its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held last weekend in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In a press statement issued on Friday in Lagos, GTI’s Head of Media and Publicity, Andrew Ekejiuba, lauded the NFF Board under the leadership of Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau for the smooth conduct of the AGM and the significant progress made in Nigerian football development.
According to Ekejiuba, the Ibadan meeting reflected Gusau’s commitment to engaging stakeholders and strengthening unity across the football ecosystem.
“GTI Group congratulates the Nigeria Football Federation on the successful outcome of its Annual General Meeting held in Ibadan, which the President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, used the occasion to demonstrate his commitment to engaging positively with football stakeholders, including state football associations, clubs and fans,” he said.
“His interactions with the various groups at the AGM showcased his impactful leadership and dedication to promoting Nigerian football and fostering a collaborative environment.”
Ekejiuba also highlighted the Super Falcons’ recent achievements and the growth of domestic competitions, particularly the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), as key milestones recorded under Gusau’s leadership. GTI serves as a strategic partner of the NPFL, supporting its structural and commercial transformation.
The statement further expressed appreciation to Governor Seyi Makinde and the people of Oyo State for their hospitality and support during the AGM. Ekejiuba noted the governor’s commendation of the improved standard of refereeing in the NPFL under the administration of Otunba Gbenga Elegbeleye.
However, GTI also used the opportunity to express disappointment over the early exit of Kwara United and Abia Warriors from the CAF Confederation Cup, urging Nigerian clubs to raise their competitive standards on the continental stage.
“It is unfortunate that both Kwara United and Abia Warriors crashed out at the preliminary phase of the CAF Confederation Cup last weekend. This clearly shows that Nigerian clubs must raise their game in order to compete favourably,” the statement read.
“The future remains bright, but that is why GTI has been calling on Corporate Nigeria to invest more in our football, just as is done in thriving leagues across the world.”
Ekejiuba also extended words of encouragement to Remo Stars and Rivers United, who are still flying Nigeria’s flag in the CAF Champions League.
“We encourage them to dig deep and remain focused to ensure successful campaigns. They should give Nigerian football fans something to cheer this season because we understand how demanding continental competitions can be,” he concluded.
GTI Group reaffirmed its continued commitment to working closely with the NFF to advance football development, promote professionalism, and attract sustainable investment into the Nigerian game.
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The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has queried Warri Wolves following reports of the suspension of their head coach, Aluma Napoleon, faulting the club’s failure to comply with established procedures for contracting and registering technical officials.
In a letter titled “Notarization and Registration of Contracts” and signed by the NPFL Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, the league body directed the Delta-based club to regularize all contractual documentation with its technical and management staff in line with NPFL regulations.
The NPFL’s letter stated:
“Information reaching us from the media space suggests that the Delta State Sports Commission has suspended your head coach, Mr. Aluma Napoleon, with immediate effect.”
Citing Sections B, Articles 6 and 11 of the NPFL 2025/26 Framework and Rules, the league reminded Warri Wolves that all clubs are required to submit notarized contracts of their officials for registration and record purposes.
“You are, however, in breach of these sections as Warri Wolves FC have not submitted the contracts of its officials to the League Board. You are hereby requested, within twenty-four hours of receiving this letter, to submit all relevant contracts of your technical team, including that of the assumed suspended head coach, Mr. Napoleon Aluma, to the NPFL Secretariat,” the letter warned.
The NPFL further cautioned that failure to comply could lead to sanctions, including restricting Warri Wolves’ technical crew from accessing the bench in subsequent league matches.
“Note that failure to comply with this instruction will lead to the restriction of your technical team from accessing the technical area in future NPFL matches,” the league stated.
In a related statement to NPFL Media, COO Davidson Owumi stressed that the Warri Wolves case was not isolated, adding that all clubs yet to register the contracts of their technical officials must do so without delay.
“I must admonish all coaches to get hold of their contracts and lodge a report with the NPFL when there is a violation of the terms. It is the responsibility of the aggrieved to petition the league at all times,” Owumi emphasized.
The NPFL has been tightening administrative controls in recent seasons to ensure transparency, professionalism, and adherence to contractual obligations across all participating clubs.
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