hentosky: My brother, I respect u. But d China 85 GK was Lucky Agbons and not Lucky Okenedo. Tnx 4 refreshing our memories! U are a great guy

Syenite: Yeah, think u ar right. My favourite club then was Iwuanyawu also loved ACB of Lagos. I didn't follow club football as much as national teams games. My favorite all time youth players are: Nduka Ugbade(scored goals that usually hit d roof of d net), Philip Osundo(deadly overlapping forward), Dimeji Lawal(master dribbler), Christopher Ohenhen (powerful free-kicks), Mutiu Adepoju a.k.a head master(powerful with d head)Victor Ikpeba(fast & sharp @ d wings), Nwankwo Kanu(good controling

Akolawole:
@NightRider

They were not forgorteen probably they are hidden from our reach.

Only yesterday i rememember Youthful Wole Odegbami taking-on a more experienced Yisa Sofoluwe in FA cup final in 1983/84.

chrisooblog:
wow didn't know such a fantastic thread existed really brings back the memories. remember the great 3SC team of 95/96 that won the CAF Cup beating one ugandan club like that and lost narrowly to zamalek in the final of the sekou toure cup now called the CAF champions league. moses kpakor, peter ijeh , john zaki BCC Lions main man, chris ohenhen good player was scoring goals for fun in the spanish la liga in the early 90s but couldn't get a call up to the super eagles, same for mike obiku and owobokiri doing their thing in feyernord and boavista respectively.

thegoodjoe, icons4, supernerd etc this is a great thread to visit. naija was blessed with so many players who never broke into the national team on a consistent basis.

forgiveness you are also invited to checkout this thread you will see that most home based players had been balling way before foreign born nigerians came into the equation.

TheGoodJoe:


Bright Nigerian home League talents I knew in 2000 Era were,

Kelechi Osunwa. Started at Bright Stars Academy in Port-Harcourt. I think he won the golden boot in the Nigerian League before he left the country. He played for Coach Musa Abdullahi when he coached Dolphins.

Kelechi signed 3 years with Al Ahly Shendi in Sudan in the last of 2014 he is the highest alltime topscorer of Sudan premier league with 137 goals.

Kelechi scored 104 goals in 167 games with almerikh .he is the time top scorer in 2012 with 40goals in 51 games.

Bright Stars Academy Office was in D-Line near where I stayed. I had friends who played for them. None of us doubted Kelechi Osunwa would lead the Super Eagles attack. It is a mystery how such a brilliant talent did not make it. A sharp finisher.

He hardly played in a league where he was not the top scorer. In Nigeria and in Sudan.

chrisooblog:
sad the high number of potential super eagles players who never made it. there was this guy too forgotten his name was a pocket rocket of a striker. short and stocky kind of like shaqiri but with less skill. played for enyimba but later moved to one top flight sudanese club. heard he was let go haven't heard about him since. david tyakase former enyimba striker helped them win back to back CAF champions league titles.

chrisooblog:
wow didn't know such a fantastic thread existed really brings back the memories. remember the great 3SC team of 95/96 that won the CAF Cup beating one ugandan club like that and lost narrowly to zamalek in the final of the sekou toure cup now called the CAF champions league. moses kpakor, peter ijeh , john zaki BCC Lions main man, chris ohenhen good player was scoring goals for fun in the spanish la liga in the early 90s but couldn't get a call up to the super eagles, same for mike obiku and owobokiri doing their thing in feyernord and boavista respectively.

thegoodjoe, icons4, supernerd etc this is a great thread to visit. naija was blessed with so many players who never broke into the national team on a consistent basis.

forgiveness you are also invited to checkout this thread you will see that most home based players had been balling way before foreign born nigerians came into the equation.

forgiveness:


Bros, thanks for remembering me oooo.

I wanted to take some time out from sports section small before I come back with ferocious force. Una no na.

About 'home based players been balling' 'then ooo', I will say the difference between our league now and then na like seven up. 'the difference is clear'

The quality of the league then can't be compared with now. There was quality, I mean quality when it comes to the League then. And that was why the stadium is always filled to the brim during league matches. And there was this passion and patriotism noticed with fans which you can't see in any Nigerian today. That alone makes our boys focus all their mind on playing abroad.

I know that because I have seen league matches live at the National stadium in the 80s and now. The fans were crazy. But nau mtcheeeeeeeee!

TheGoodJoe:


Bright Nigerian home League talents I knew in 2000 Era were,

Kelechi Osunwa. Started at Bright Stars Academy in Port-Harcourt. I think he won the golden boot in the Nigerian League before he left the country. He played for Coach Musa Abdullahi when he coached Dolphins.

Kelechi signed 3 years with Al Ahly Shendi in Sudan in the last of 2014 he is the highest alltime topscorer of Sudan premier league with 137 goals.

Kelechi scored 104 goals in 167 games with almerikh .he is the time top scorer in 2012 with 40goals in 51 games.

Bright Stars Academy Office was in D-Line near where I stayed. I had friends who played for them. None of us doubted Kelechi Osunwa would lead the Super Eagles attack. It is a mystery how such a brilliant talent did not make it. A sharp finisher.

He hardly played in a league where he was not the top scorer. In Nigeria and in Sudan.

chrisooblog:
wow didn't know such a fantastic thread existed really brings back the memories. remember the great 3SC team of 95/96 that won the CAF Cup beating one ugandan club like that and lost narrowly to zamalek in the final of the sekou toure cup now called the CAF champions league. moses kpakor, peter ijeh , john zaki BCC Lions main man, chris ohenhen good player was scoring goals for fun in the spanish la liga in the early 90s but couldn't get a call up to the super eagles, same for mike obiku and owobokiri doing their thing in feyernord and boavista respectively.

thegoodjoe, icons4, supernerd etc this is a great thread to visit. naija was blessed with so many players who never broke into the national team on a consistent basis.

forgiveness you are also invited to checkout this thread you will see that most home based players had been balling way before foreign born nigerians came into the equation.

Syenite:
Let me name from graduates of the past youth teams since 1985(when I started watching football):

Victor Igbinoba (eaglet China '85)
Sani Adamu (eaglet China '85)
Lucky Okonedo(goal keeper eaglet China '85)
Jonathan Akpoborie(eaglet China '85)
Peter Ogaba(eaglet Canada '87 & Flying eagles Saudi '89)
Christ Nwosu(eaglet Canada '87 & Flying eagles Saudi '89)
Phillip Osondu(eaglet Canada '87 & Flying eagles Saudi '89)
Taiwo Enegua(eaglet Canada '87)
Oladimeji Lawal(eaglet Canada '87 & Flying eagles Saudi '89)
Babajubril Babalola(eaglet Canada '87)
Lemi Isa(goal keeper eaglets Canada '87)
Etim Esin(Flying eagles Chile '87)
Williams Okpara (Goal Keeper Flying Eagles Chile '87)I remember how Brazil beat Nigeria 4-0! in our first game.
Christopher Ohenhen(Flying eagles Saudi '89)
Angus Ikechi(Goal keeper Flying eagles Saudi '89)
Emeka Amadi(2nd GK Flying eagles Saudi '89)remember the role he played in that game against USSR: From 0-4 to 4-4 and penalties(miracle of Damam)
Mike Onyemachara(Flying eagles Saudi '89)
Samuel Elijah(Flying eagles Saudi '89)
Wilfred Agbonavbare(Goal Keeper Olympic team Seoul '88)-Agbonabasket fame.I remember we lost 4-0 to Brazil in that 1st game.
David Ngodigha(2nd GK Olympic team Seoul '88)-He was brought-in in the 2nd game against Yugoslavia and we lost 3-1.
Samuel Okparaji-RIP(green eagles maroc '88 & olympic team '88)
Bright Omokaro (Green Eagles Maroc ‘88)
Ndubuisi Okesieme (Green Eagles Maroc ‘88)
Wole Odegbami (Green Eagles Maroc ‘88)
Jide Oguntunwase (Eaglets Scotland ’89)
Olusegun Fetuga (Eaglet Scotland ’89)
John Zaki (Eaglet Scotland ’89 & All African Games Cairo ’91)
Bobolayefa Edon(Eaglet Scotland ’89 & All African Games Cairo ’91)
Precious Monye (Eaglets Scotland ’89)
Andrew Aikhomogbe( Goal Keeper Eaglet Scotland ’89)
Friday Elahor (Green Eagles Algiers ’90)
Moses Kpakor (Green Eagles Algiers ’90)
Chinedu Anazonwu (All African Games Cairo ’91)
Felix Aladesanmi (All African Games Cairo ’91)
Peter Ikechukwu Anosike (Eaglet Japan ’93)
Festus Odini (Eaglet Japan ’93)
Karibe Ojigwe (Eaglets Japan ’93, Dream Team1 Atlanta 96, later played for Super Eagles late 90s)
Mubi Okparaku (Eaglet Japan ’93,Dream Team1 Atlanta 96, later played for Super Eagles prior France 98).Friendly against Yugoslavia spoilt his Career.
Mohammed Manga (Eaglet Japan ’93)
Charles Okonebor (Goal Keeper Eaglets Japan ’93)
Emmanuel Babayaro (2d Goal Keeper Eaglet Japan ’93, 2nd GK Dream Team 1 Atlanta 96 )
Gabriel Okolosi (battling to break into the Super Eagles of the early 90s)
Efan Ekoku (expected to be better than Yekini only to flop at CAN ’94)
Mike Emanalor (Super Eagles USA ’94) Currently in Chelsea coaching crew
Olumide Haris ( AYC Nigeria ’95)
Kingsley Amuneke a.k.a Ecuador (Eaglets Ecuador ’95)- my child-hood friend & younger brother to Emmanuel Amuneke
Edward Anyankim (not sure of the spelling) (Eaglets Ecuador ’95)
Blessing Anyanwu(Eaglets Ecuador ’95)
Kingsley Obiekwu (Dream Team 1 Atlanta Olympics ’96)
Dosu Joseph (Dream Team 1 Goal Keeper Atlanta ’96)
Teslim Fatusi (Dream Team 1 Atlanta ’96)
Gbenga Okunowo (Flying Eagles ’97) Later played for Barcelona FC
Julius Aghahowa (Flying Eagles Nigeria ’99; Dream Team 2 Team Sydney 2000; Super Eagles WC Korea/Japan 2002;CAN ’02, ‘04, ’06)
Pius Ikedia (Flying Eagles Nigeria ’99, Dream Team 2 Sydney 2000, Later played shortly for Super Eagles)
Haruna Babangida (Flying Eagles Nigeria ’99, Dream Team 2 Sydney 2000)
Shittu *Forgonten his first name*(Flying Eagles Nigeria ’99)
Azubuike Oliseh (Dream Team 2 Sydney 2000)
Ogbonna Kanu (Dream Team 2 Sydney 2000)
Femi Opabunmi (Eaglets T &T 2001, Super Eagles Korea/Japan 2002, Dream Team 3)Onigninde prematurely killed his promising Career
Segun Abiodun (Eaglets T&T 2001 & Dream Team 3)
Victor Brown (Eaglets T &T 2001)
Temile Omonigho (Eaglets T & T 2001)
Justice Christopher (Flying Eagles 2001, Super Eagles WC Korea/Japan ’02, Dream Team 3)
Christian Obodo (Flying Eagles 2001, Super Eagles 03-06)
Batholomew Ogbeche(Flying Eagles 2001, Super Eagles WC Korea/Japan 2002)
Zenken Tyewase (Eaglets 2005,Flying Eagles ’07)
Ezekiel Bala(Eaglets Norway ’03 & Flying Eagles ’07)
Emmanuel Sarki(Eaglets Norway ’03 & Flying Eagles ’07)
David Solomon Abwo(Flying Eagles Holland ’05)
John Owoeri (Flying Eagles Holland ’05)
Macauley Krisantus(Eaglets Korea ’07)
Kabiru Akinsola(Eaglets Korea ‘07
Daniel Joshua (Eaglet Korea ’07)
Edile *Forgoten his 1st name*(Eaglets Korea ’07)
Sani Keita (Flying Eagles Holland ‘05, Dream Team 4 Beijing ’08, Super Eagles WC SA ’10)
Yakubu Ayegbeni(Dream Team 2 Sydney 2000, Super Eagles CAN ’04,’08,’10 WC SA ’10)

joseph1013:


Hey, seems you really watched football in the oldies. Got a question for you: an elderly man once told me that eventhough Okocha was a master dribbler and someone that brings tricks out of nowhere, there are a few players that beat him in the 'skills' department in the oldies. And that the reason we dont know them is because their matches were not recorded. He said they were super creative with balls. Will you agree with that? And if yes, who are those players?

edi287:

Wasn't he the one that got dropped from either the U17 or U20 sometime around 03 due to age cheating allegations My elder bro was a huge fan of his back then.

Icon4s:

Question directed to Syenite = icon4s.

Okocha to me remains the best creative midfielder we have ever had.

Midfielders that came close were Etim Esin and Henry Nwosu. I watched Esin and Nwosu play in the 1980s, but Okocha was better than them.

Icon4s:


My contribution from 2011. I have more players to add to that list

Icon4s:

Question directed to Syenite = icon4s.

Okocha to me remains the best creative midfielder we have ever had.

Midfielders that came close were Etim Esin and Henry Nwosu. I watched Esin and Nwosu play in the 1980s, but Okocha was better than them.

TheGoodJoe:
Another player who I expected to excel in Nigeria was Abdulrasheed Ajagun.

I first saw him on an NTA televised Tournament final. The Shell Cup. A secondary school competition all over Nigeria.

He was already the top scorer going into the final. There was a hefty price tag for the golden boot winner. There was another price tag for the highest goal scorer in the final game.

Papers already went Gaga about the boys talent and in the final, Abdulrasheed Ajagun did not fail. He put a fine display in the final game and scored a brilliant hat trick. I can not remember the name of his school but they played a Rivers State team in the finals. Oinkrama Grammar School. Not sure if the spelling but that is the pronunciation.

He had a unfair treatment in the U17 African Championship camp and the coach did not play him in the tournament until the third match. By then we were knocked out and had not scored a goal.

Ajagun came in and scored the only goal for Nigeria in that tournament.

He joined Giwa FC and won the highest goal scorer in the local League.

A puzzling case of a true brilliant player. With top quality who never made the Super Eagles team.

enomakos:
i think the school was Grays international kaduna

enomakos:
julius aghahowa pius ikedia

enomakos:
julius aghahowa pius ikedia

TheGoodJoe:


Emmanuel Babayaro was number 1 GK in 1993 U17. He was also number one of the Olympics team in Harare '95 all African games until he injured. Then Abiodun Baruwa replaced him.

TheGoodJoe:


Did you get to watch any of Emmanuel Ebiede's games with Sharks under Coach Sinclair.