Many have heard about this match. Some think it’s an urban legend. Some think it’s only a joke. But only few know the truth. A long time ago, few months after the end of the Nigeria-Biafra war, the Military Governor of Lagos decided to stage an exhibition match at the then glorious National Stadium Lagos.He thought it would be a special way of celebrating Nigeria’s victory inthe war, a way of helping Lagosians to forget the sad bloody years that had just passed. He wanted to stage the match between Nigeria &Ghana but was advised against it. His advisers reminded him how Ghana trashed Nigeria 3-Nil at the 1960 Independence Match, that another loss to Ghana might defeat the purpose ofthe exhibition match. His advisers suggested that they choose a team that would be very easy to beat. Brig Gen Mobolaji Johnson agreed. Ethiopia was considered. Zimbabwe was considered. India was considered. USA was considered. And India was chosen. He & his advisers believed that India would be a walkover. But had he known what would happen he might have chosen Brazil. Yes, Brazil were the reigning world champions at the time but…Oh, had he known. India agreed to play the exhibition match with Nigeria.In fact, they were over joyed.Nigeria was one of the best teams in Africa. And they had never played with an African team before. What more! They were most over joyed that Nigeria had agreed to their three special conditions. What were these conditions? Well, on that fateful day, a bright Saturday afternoon on August 15th, 1970, the National Stadium Lagos was filled with excited spectators.That was Condition No. 1, that the match be played on India’s Independence Day. As the players of Nigeria & India came into the pitch, spectators screamed with more excitement as they saw that all the twenty-two players were barefooted. That was Condition No. 2. (Remember that India had withdrawn from the 1950 World Cup because they weren’t allowed to play bare footed.) Priiii… Referee Mohammed Touat

LOADING....

Following

The truth is that game never happened.

a documentary uncovering ds myth shuld b made

tlanry: Many have heard about this match. Some think it’s an urban legend. Some think it’s only a joke. But only few know the truth. A long time ago, few months after the end of the Nigeria-Biafra war, the Military Governor of Lagos decided to stage an exhibition match at the then glorious National Stadium Lagos.He thought it would be a special way of celebrating Nigeria’s victory inthe war, a way of helping Lagosians to forget the sad bloody years that had just passed. He wanted to stage the match between Nigeria &Ghana but was advised against it. His advisers reminded him how Ghana trashed Nigeria 3-Nil at the 1960 Independence Match, that another loss to Ghana might defeat the purpose ofthe exhibition match. His advisers suggested that they choose a team that would be very easy to beat. Brig Gen Mobolaji Johnson agreed. Ethiopia was considered. Zimbabwe was considered. India was considered. USA was considered. And India was chosen. He & his advisers believed that India would be a walkover. But had he known what would happen he might have chosen Brazil. Yes, Brazil were the reigning world champions at the time but…Oh, had he known. India agreed to play the exhibition match with Nigeria.In fact, they were over joyed.Nigeria was one of the best teams in Africa. And they had never played with an African team before. What more! They were most over joyed that Nigeria had agreed to their three special conditions. What were these conditions? Well, on that fateful day, a bright Saturday afternoon on August 15th, 1970, the National Stadium Lagos was filled with excited spectators.That was Condition No. 1, that the match be played on India’s Independence Day. As the players of Nigeria & India came into the pitch, spectators screamed with more excitement as they saw that all the twenty-two players were barefooted. That was Condition No. 2. ( Remember that India had withdrawn from the 1950 World Cup because they weren’t allowed to play bare footed .) Priiii… Referee Mohammed Touat

LOADING....

India qualified by default for the 1950 FIFA World Cup finals as a result of the withdrawal of all of their scheduled opponents. But the governing body All India Football Federation decided against going to the World Cup, being unable to understand the importance of the event at that time. Reasons given by AIFF was that there was the cost of travel, although FIFA agreed to bear a major part of the travel expenses,[1] lack of practice time, team selection issues and valuing Olympics over FIFA World cup

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_at_the_FIFA_World_Cup