The Nigerian Under-23 men’s football team became the first ever African team to win an Olympic Gold medal in football. Nicknamed the Dream Team, it represented Nigeria at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics, Georgia, USA. The win was not just Nigeria’s but also a major win for the continent in a trying time.
A perfect combination of skill, speed, technic and youthful energy, no Nigerian team assembled after the ’96 Dream Team has been able to match its performance and successes at the Olympics.
The Journey
Led by Dutchman Johannes Bonfrere and assisted by Musa Abdullahi, the U-23 team which comprised of 18 players arrived in Tallahassee, Florida to train well enough before the games would begin. According to the rules of FIFA and International Olympic Committee on the allowed number [three] of overaged (above the age of 23) players for the tournament, Coach Bonfrere invited two players from the Super Eagles to provide a much-needed experience for the young star-studded Dream Team.
The Game
Nigeria, considered the least favourite to qualify from the group stage, was grouped alongside tournament favourites Brazil, Hungary and Japan. However, the team came prepared to prove their worth to the world.
The Dream Team started off with a win against Hungary via a goal by Nwankwo Kanu in the 44th minute. They subsequently defeated Japan 2-0 with goals from Tijani Babangida and Jay-Jay Okocha in the 82nd and 90th minute respectively.
Nigeria’s third and final game in the series was not however as easy the the last two, as Brazil defeated Nigeria 1-0 to qualify into the quarterfinals. Despite the defeat, Nigeria had accrued enough points to also move into the quarterfinals, and the team would face Mexico next.
Two goals from Jay-Jay Okocha and Celestine Babayaro in the 20th and 82nd minute of the game placed Nigeria in the semi-finals of the tournament. In an interesting turn of events, the team had to face Brazil yet again.
The game began with tournament favourite, Brazil grabbing the opener 1 minute into the game. In the 20th minute, a stroke of luck saw Nigeria equalize when Roberto Carlos scored an own goal. Parity retuned to the game, albeit only for a short time. The Brazilian team soon led with two goals scored in the 28th and 38th minute. All hope seemed to be lost for Nigeria at this time. Fortunately, Victor Ikpeba hit the back of the net from 20 yards in the 78th minute and with only a few minutes added time to go Kanu’s sheer brilliance hit goal.
The game went into extra time, and at the time, FIFA rules on Olympic football games that extended into extra time stated that the first team to score ‘a golden goal’ would be declared the winner.
Hardly four minutes into extra time, Kanu scored Nigeria’s winner, and till today the game is still considered one of the greatest Olympic football matches ever played.
Nigeria met Argentina in the finals and the game started off not too different from their previous encounter as Claudio Lopez put the Argentines in the lead 3 minutes into the game. Babayaro equalized for Nigeria in the 28th minute, but the victory was short-lived when Hernan Crespo restored Argentina’s lead in the 50th minute via a well-taken penalty. In the 74th minute, Daniel Amokachi levelled the scores again for Nigeria, and with only about a minute left on regular time, Emmanuel Amunike scored the winning goal for Nigeria.
Nigeria had finally dominated the world on a football pitch.
The Dream Team
Goalkeepers
No. 1 – Emmanuel Babayaro
No. 18 – Dosu Joseph
Defenders
No. 2 – Celestine Babayaro
No. 3 – Taribo West
No. 5 – Uche Okechukwu
No. 12 – Abiodun Obafemi
No. 16 – Kingsley Obiekwu
No. 17 – Mobi Oparaku
Midfielders
No. 6 – Emmanuel Amuneke
No. 7- Tijani Babangida
No. 8 – Wilson Oruma
No. 9 – Teslim Fatusi
No. 10 – Jay-Jay Okocha
No. 15 – Sunday Oliseh
Forwards
No. 4 – Nwankwo Kanu
No. 11 – Victor Ikpeba
No. 13 – Garba Lawal
No. 14 – Daniel Amokachi
Feature image: goal.com
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