On March 22, 2020, it was exactly 40 years after Nigeria recorded her first African Cup of Nations win on home soil. Nigeria defeated Algeria 3-0 at the main bowl of the National Stadium Surulere, Lagos, in the final of the continental football showpiece to lift the trophy for the very first time.

One of the players who made it happen for Nigeria, Felix Owolabi, said it was passion and determination that drove the team to attain glory in the competition. Owolabi, popularly called Owoblow, stressed that the team did not receive money as bonuses but was winning every match; with the motivation being the desire to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians.

He said: “The thought of money was very far from our minds. We did not even think of it because we were under severe pressure. From the beginning of the competition till the very end, it was very tough for us.

“We simply maintained our focus, we played for one another and we had to battle the domestic problem of being the home team. Our friends and relatives were coming to see us at the hotel and there were distractions along the line and the tension before each of the games was massive.

“All we got for the victory were given to us after the competition. Nothing for all the wins recorded during the tournament.”

Owolabi stated that it was more difficult for the players because the fans did not believe the team could do any outstanding thing.

The former international stated that from the very first match to the semis, the fans were not fully in support of the Eagles because they wanted big wins in all the games.

“In the opening match against Tanzania, it was tough. They had a great team and we were leading 2-1, our fans were not convinced and Tanzania were close to equalising but luckily we got the third goal to win 3-1. In the second match we drew 0-0 with Cote d’Ivoire and it was a case of when will the Eagles crash out.

“We came up against one of the title favourites, Egypt and won 1-0 but our fans were not happy and felt we could not stop the rampaging Morocco side that had beaten all other teams easily in the other group.

“The game against Morocco was the semis and we did very well especially in the defence to avoid goals. We won 1-0 to pick the ticket to the final and I scored the only goal in the encounter. Our coach, Otto Gloria, was a great man. He was a father to us all and he gave us different tactics almost for every match. It was not easy to beat the top three North African sides in the competition,” he added.

In the final match against Algeria, Owolabi said the former President, Shehu Shagari, motivated the team in a special way and his impact on the team the on final day of the Nations Cup worked like magic.

Owolabi said: “We had a blend of young and old players in the team but as one of the young ones I observed some crucial points on the final day. As we gathered for our breakfast, it was a big shock that the President of the country then, Shehu Shagari, joined us and had breakfast with us. He gave us a short message and charged us to go and win for Nigeria. It was like a dream and we were fired up for victory.

“Also on match day, on our way to the stadium, market women lined up at both sides of the road along Badagry Expressway to cheer us. We were in the FESTAC ’77 bus and these women were praying for us to go and win the trophy. As if these were not enough, we entered the stadium and the fans that had been so skeptical about our performances from the start, were all out displaying absolute confidence in the team.

“We could have beaten the best team in the world on that day. It was amazing that we recorded our best scoreline that final day.”

The former International regretted that some members of the 22-man team were dead and could not celebrate the 40 years of the significant win.

Goalkeeper Best Ogedegbe, Okey Isima, Muda Lawal, Alloysius Atuegbu, Martins Eyo, and Tunde Bamidele are all dead.

“It is sad that they are not alive today. I feel it as a person because we all worked so hard for the trophy but God knows best,” he added.

Interestingly, the former Shooting Stars player argued that the country had been unable to achieve much in football that corresponds with the potential in Nigeria.

“With just three Nations Cup triumphs, that’s not good enough; we could have done better because of the players we are blessed with. I appreciate that people remember us after 40 years of winning the trophy but this is because there are not many wins after our own. We recorded two more Nations Cup triumphs and Atlanta Olympics gold. We should have done better overall.”

Looking back, Owolabi also said the players at the time were close friends on and off the pitch.

“We were united and we work for one another on and off the pitch. We gave ourselves necessary tips and we often talked to ourselves on how best to approach a particular game especially anytime we had matches against North Africans. We were one big family such that the head coach and his crew related with us as friends,” he noted.

The football legend also took time to shower praises on the then football federation led by Sunday Dankaro. Owoblow noted that the federation members had ambition to take football higher in the country.

“They used their personal resources to make us comfortable. They were men of integrity with their own businesses and they took us as their children.

“If there was any problem, they came together to solve it not the ministry or the Federal Government. I am taking about people like late Lekan Salami, Isaac Akioye, Chief Sylvanus Akinwunmi, Dr. Awoture Eleyae, Yinka Rhodes, Madam Rangers and a host of others.

“These people were elders with interest of the game at heart. They were the engine room of the team working behind-the-scene for us to excel.

“I also remember that the media was behind us at the time. They gave us all sorts of names to inspire us anytime we were on the field. The grass cutters, gatemen, those working behind-the-scene were also great and contributed to our success.”

Owolabi commended current sports minister, Sunday Dare, who had plans to host the 1980 team but for the current COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the nation.

“I feel honoured just like many of the members of the team,” he added.