THE Nigerian athletes who were to represent the country at the Montreal Olympics in 1976 and members of the Green Eagles squad to the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations on home soil have all expressed delight that their efforts have been timelessly recognised.
While the athletes to the Games in Canada were denied the opportunity to compete due to a diplomatic row, the national football team won the country’s first AFCON title by beating Algeria 3-0 in the final in Lagos.
Both sets of sportsmen and women were honoured with a Sports Diplomacy Wall of Fame over the weekend by the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs in Lagos, in conjunction with the Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace Allen Onyema.
The Wall of Fame stands tall in NIIA’s vast premises on Victoria Island, with the names of all the 45 athletes and 22 footballers inscribed in gold.
The athletes to the Montreal Olympics, including the national football team, were already in Canada for a week before they were ordered back home due to Nigeria’s withdrawal, along with 26 other countries, due to New Zealand’s continued sporting relationship with Apartheid South Africa.
The International Olympic Committee refused to axe New Zealand from the Games for undertaking a rugby tour of South Africa in defiance of a United Nations resolution that the racist Apartheid regime must be isolated until they undertook reforms.
Nigeria led the boycott with African countries and others from across the world, and the athletes were ordered back home without participating, and they were subsequently ignored.
On Friday, over 20 of them were present and others were represented by family members as the magnificent Sports Diplomacy Wall of Fame was unveiled.
Gloria Obajimi (nee Ayanlaja), a track and field star at the time, told Naija Times how she felt seeing her name on the wall that has immortalised her and others.
“I cannot quantify it, the joy in my heart knows no bounds,” she said with the Wall of Fame aptly serving as the backdrop.
“I am elated. My children, my grandchildren, athletes that are yet unborn can come to NIIA and be inspired by this. I’m happy that the NIIA’s Department of Sports Diplomacy deemed it fit to honour us with this Wall of Fame. To God be the glory.”
Segun Odegbami, who was one of the members of the national football team to the Montreal Olympics in 1976 and the top scorer for the Green Eagles at the AFCON in 1980, suggested that there was great potential for medals if Nigeria had taken part in the Games.
The former winger fondly nicknamed ‘Mathematical’ also played a big role in the organisation of the Wall of Fame, and he spoke glowingly of the athletic prowess of many of the track and field stars, boxers and other Nigerian sportsmen denied of fulfilling their dreams 47 years ago.
“We had some top athletes at the time and we were destined for medals, especially in athletics and boxing. Of course the withdrawal was for a good cause but the athletes had their dreams taken away and were not given any kind of recognition for the diplomatic success of the boycott,” Odegbami said.
“Now, we are all happy and proud of the part we played in the fight against Apartheid in South Africa. Some of the athletes who had resentments against the Nigerian government have now forgiven them and we’re all honoured by this Wall of Fame.”
Although the 1980 Green Eagles squad was feted by then President Shehu Shagari and each member given the national honour of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON), they were immensely pleased to be part of the one-of-its-kind Wall of Fame.
A key member of the squad, Adokiye Amiesimaka, told Naija Times it was an unforgettable experience winning Nigeria’s first AFCON title, as he expressed delight that the Wall of Fame brought the team together again.
“We remember today how we were as friends and young men, happily our friends who are no longer here with us have representatives here; children, wives and so on,” the winger popularly known as ‘Chief Justice’ said.
“I’m also very glad to note that this is a reunion of sorts. Not forgetting to say a big thank you to the Director General of the NIIA and the Chairman of Air Peace for actualising this.
“Once again, thank you to every Nigerian for appreciating what we only saw as our duty. I remember the accolades we got in 1980 and I remember too what we’re getting now, and I say thank you very much. I am personally happy and I believe I speak the minds of the others when I say so.”
Felix Owolabi and John Orlando, members of the 1980 squad, also expressed their appreciation of the recognition in separate chats with Naija Times.
