By: Obafemi Aridegbe
The death of Stephen “the big boss” keshi came as a rude shock to the global football family. I learnt about it around 3.30am on that day through the facebook page of Omoyele Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters.
One of my big ‘egbons’ asked me a question the next day that “why are the 1994 Eagles squad depleting so fast”?
First it was Uche Okafor, then Rashidi Yekini, then Thompson Oliha, then Wilfred Agbonavbare, and now Stephen Keshi. This is just too many!
There is no debate the 1994 squad is the most successful Super Eagles group till date. They gave us our first World Cup ticket. And at their peak, just before the Mundial in 1994, the team was rated the fifth best team in the World. No African team has been so rated till date. In their time, those guys can sting even a bee!
But one thing seems to be missing despite the on-field success of the team; there was apparent disunity in that team. We heard stories! And it was reported that it might actually be the reason why we lost out to Italy at the second round of the 1994 Mundial in the USA. I’m not saying a new thing here. Much has been written about the so-called mafia in the Eagles back then. I believe we still need an insider’s account of what really happened at the Nigeria’s World Cup camp in 1994.
My friend and brother, Emeka Ezeugo, a member of that squad told me few years ago that he was putting his pen to paper to tell us what really happened in 1994, but we are yet to see the book on the shelf!
I remember when a football match was organized to mark Rashidi Yekini’s one year remembrance, Samsos Siasia lamented that day that he was expecting to see the bulk of that team around but most of the guys were nowhere to be found!
I am saying all these because the 1994 squad was a pride to Nigeria and African football. Whatever happened in the USA is in the past now. There are only seventeen of you guys remaining now!
On the day Keshi will be buried, I expect to see to see the seventeen of you well represented. It will be a great respect to Keshi to see the likes of Peter Rufai, Austin Eguavoen, Mike Emenalo, Daniel Amokachi, George Finidi, Austin Okocha, Uche Okechukwu, Chidi Nwanu, Ben Iroha, Sunday Oliseh, Aloy Agu, Mutiu Adepoju, Emeka Ezeugo, Efan Ekoku, Emmanuel Amuneke, Samson Siasia, and Victor Ikpeba holding hands to pay the last respect to their fallen captain. Nothing is too big to do for Keshi.
I pray the souls of Keshi and the other fallen soldiers of the 1994 squad rest in peace. Amen