...Abedi, Yeboah & Nii Lamptey Play
Super Eagles squad to the 1994 World Cup in USA, yesterday at the Abuja Stadium forced a selection of the rest of the World team to a 2-2 draw, in a match designed to mark 30 years of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The match, graced by dignitaries, including the Chief Host, Minister of the FCT, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, was watched by a teeming crowd, who stormed the stadium to see stars of yesteryears.
The stars on parade ranged from former African Player of the Year and Ghanaian football legend, Abedi Ayew Pele, Tony Yeboah, Stephen Keshi, Mutiu Adepoju, Emmanuel Amunike, Samson Siasia, Uche Okafor, Tijani Babangida, Emeka Ezeugo, Peterside Idah, Mark Fish and Ghana?s Nii Odartey Lamptey.
Others were former Nigerian goalkeeper, Alloy Agu, present coach of the Super Eagles, Austin Eguavoen, Ben Iroha, Patrick Pascal, Abdoulaye Traore of Ivory Coast, Marcel Desaily of France and a host of other players, who dazzled us with their soccer theatrics in the years gone by.
They were all there to treat fans to a night of good soccer and at the end of 90 minutes, fans were happy to have been part of the big match to mark 30 years of the creation of the city of Abuja.
Coached by former coach of the Super Eagles, Clemens Westerhof, the USA 1994 Eagles, who were called Team Abuja, started the match on a promising note, looking for the opener but their efforts were thwarted by the goalkeeper of the Team World selection, Peterside Idah,
The likes of Samson Siasia, Mutiu Adepoju, Tijani Babangida were in the thick of attack of the 1994 Eagles but one after the other, they all came short of netting the goal. Surprisingly, it was the Team World that scored first through a powerful diving header by Ghanaian legend, Anthony Yeboah in the 27th minute.
It was a trademark goal that beat Eagles? goalie, Alloy Agu, and it reminded all of Yeboah?s wonderful years playing professional football in the German Bundesliga, where he had scored many exciting goals that held Germans spellbound.
The goal seemed to jolt the USA 1994 Eagles into life as they rallied for the equaliser They however drew level two minutes to extra time through a powerful strike by "Headmaster", Mutiu Adepoju. The referee almost spoiled the fun of the day with a cheeky penalty award to USA?94 side, but Emmanuel Amunike in the spirit of fair play played it into the hands of Idah. The crowd applauded his sense of fair play. It was fun and Abuja celebrated it wholly.
Summary
Nigeria 2-2 Rest of the WorldGoals: Tony Yeboah, Mutiu Adepoju, Mark Fish, Emmanuel Amunike
Rest of the World Team: Peterside Idah Basile Boli Paul Parker Marcel Desially Mark Fish Nii Odartey Lamptey Phil Masinga Abdoulaye Traore Tony Yeboah Abedi Pele (captain) Okpala
Coach Jomo Sono
Nigeria Coach: Westerhof Siasia, Amokachi, Eguavoen, Babangida, Amuneke, Oliseh, Finidi, Adepoju, Kanu Taribo West, Uche Okafor, Ike Shoronmu, Alloy Agu, Keshi, Ben Iroha, Emeka Ezeugo, Thompson Oliha etc were in the Nigerian team
Line up: Alloy Agu, Tijani Babangida, Okechukwu, Eguavoen, SiaSia, Finidi, Ike, Taribo, Ezuego, Kanu, with Keshi captaining the Nigerian side
Amokachi replaced Tijani Babangida
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