It is not an easy task to compile a list of 16 players that make up an assembly of the greatest team in 60 years of football in Nigeria, called ‘Dream Eagles’.
At best, it is an academic exercise. More so, when those to select the players are only 12 out of a population of 200 million football-crazy Nigerians. But that’s what this game is – a personal selection of a squad of players with a captain from amongst them and a coach, by ‘Wise men’.
The ‘Wise men’ are selected based on personal assessment of their worth and depth of knowledge and experience in Nigerian football. They represent different generations of the game from 1960 to date, and come from varied backgrounds but all related to football.
These are their personal choices, for entertainment purposes only.
Godwin Dudu-Orumen
Lawyer, administrator, analyst
Formation: 4-3-3
1. Inua Lawal Rigogo (GK)
2. Anthony Igwe, (RB)
3. Sylvester Egborge, (LB)
4. Sani Mohammed, (DMF)
5. Christian Chukwu, (CD)
6. Dominic Ezeani, (CD)
7. Segun Odegbami, (OR)
8. Sam Garba, (CMF)Capt.
9. Thompson Usiyen, (CF)
10. Haruna Ilerika, (AM)
11. Kunle Awesu, (OL)
Subs.
12. Peter Fregene, (GK)
13. Patrick Ekeji, (D)
14. Stephen Keshi, (D)
15. Austin Okocha, (MF)
16. Rashidi Yekini, (CF)
Coach: Alabi Aissien
Formation: 4-3-3.
1. Vincent Enyeama (GK)
2. Sylvanus Okpala, (RB)
3. Yisa Shofoluwe, (LB)
4. Mudashiru Lawal, (DMF)
5. Christian Chukwu, (CD)Capt.
6. Godwin Odiye, (CD)
7. Segun Odegbami, (OR)
8. Aloysius Atuegbu, (CMF)
9. Thompson Usiyen, (CF)
10. Nwankwo Kanu, (AMF)
11. Adokie Amesiamaka, (OL)
Subs.
12. Emmanuel Okala, (GK)
13. Sunday Oliseh, (D)
14. Rasheed Yekini, (F)
15. Henry Nwosu, (OL)
16. Stephen Keshi, (M)
Coach: Adegboye Onigbinde
Paul Okoku
ex-international player, Scholar
Mallam Yakubu Ibn Mohammed
DG NTA, Journalist
Formation: 4-4-2
1. Inua Lawal Rigogo (GK)
2. Anthony Igwe, (RB)
3. Yisa Shofoluwe, (LB)
4. Mudashiru Lawal, (DMF)
5. Christian Chukwu, (CD) Capt.
6. Sunday Oliseh, (CMF)
7. Segun Odegbami, (OR)
8. Samuel Garba Okoye, (MF)
9. Teslim Balogun, (CF)
10. Peter Anieke, (MF)
11. Rasheed Yekini, (OL)
Subs.
12. Vincent Enyeamah, (GK)
13. Benedict Iroha, (D)
14. Sam Opone, (D)
15. Adokie Amesiamaka, (F)
16. Haruna Ilerika, (F)
Coach: Abdulganiyu Salami,
former assistant national coach, junior national coach
Formation: 4-4-2
1. Inua Lawal Rigogo (GK)
2. Anthony Igwe, (RB)
3. Augustine Ofokwu, (LB)
4. Mudashiru Lawal, (DMF)
5. Segun Olumodeji, (CD)
6. Emmanuel Onyeador, (CD)
7. Daniel Okwudili, (OR)
8. Albert Onyeawuna, (IR)Capt.
9. Haruna Ilerika, (CMF)
10. Elkannah Onyali, (CF)
11. Dejo Fayemi, (OL)
Subs.
12. Emmanuel Omiunu, (GK)
13. Godwin Achebe, (D)
14. Segun Odegbami, (F)
15. Patrick Noquapor, (OL)
16. Sam Garba, (M)
Coach: Dan Anyiam
Segun Adenuga
Veteran sports journalist: Standard, Daily Times, Punch, Herald, Democrat
John Kalu
Club Football Coordinator
Formation: 4-4-2
1. Vincent Enyeama, (GK)
2. Sylvanus Okpala, (RB)
3. Yisa Shofoluwe, (LB)
4. Mudashiru Lawal, (DMF)
5. Christian Chukwu, (CD) Capt.
6. Segun Olumodeji, (CD)
7. Segun Odegbami, (OR)
8. Aloysius Atuegbu, (CM)
9. Rasheed Yekini, (CF)
10. JJ Okocha, (AMF)
11. Adokie Amesiamaka , (OL)
Subs
12. Peter Fregene, (GK)
13. Thompson Usiyen, (F)
14. Stephen Keshi, (D)
15. Teslim Thunder Balogun, (F)
16. Kanu Nwankwo, (M)
Coach: Kadiri Ikhana
Formation: 4-2-4
1. Emmanuel Okala (GK)
2. Anthony Igwe, (RB)
3. Okey Isima, (LB)
4. Mudashiru Lawal, (DMF) Capt.
5. Segun Olumodeji, (CD)
6. Gowin Odiye, (CD)
7. Segun Odegbami, (OR)
8. Mutiu Adepoju, (CMF)
9. Teslim Balogun, (CF)
10. Haruna Ilerika, (CF)
11. Adokie Amesiamaka, (OL)
Subs
12. Vincent Enyeamah (GK)
13. Yisa Shofoluwe (D)
14. Henry Nwosu (MF)
15. Christian Chukwu (D)
16. Rashidi Yekini (F)
Coach: Alabi Aissien.
Engr. Bola Ayorinde
Retired referee and match commissioner
Dr Rafiu Ladipo
President-General, Nigeria Football Supporters Club
Formation: 4-2-4
1. Peter Rufai (GK)
2. Anthony Igwe, (RB)
3. Ben Iroha, (LB)
4. Muda Lawal, (DMF)
5. Christian Chukwu, (CD) Capt.
6. Stephen Keshi, (CD)
7. Segun Odegbami, (OR)
8. Daniel Amokachi (CMF)
9. Rashid Yekini (CF)
10. Jay Jay Okocha (CF)
11. Felix Owolabi (OL)
Subs.
12. Emmanuel Okala, (GK)
13. Finidi George, (F)
14. Emmanuel Amuneke, (F)
15. Kanu Nwankwo, (MF)
16. Henry Nwosu, (MF)
Coach: Amodu Shuaibu
Formation: 4-2-4
1. Inua Lawal Rigogo (GK)
2. Anthony Igwe, (RB)
3. Fabian Duru, (LB)
4. Muda Lawal, (DMF) Capt.
5. Segun Olumodeji, (CD)
6. Stephen Keshi, (CD)
7. Segun Odegbami, (OR)
8. Jay Jay Okocha, (CMF)
9. Paul Hamilton, (CF)
10. Nwankwo Kanu, (CF)
11. Dejo Fayemi, (OL)
Subs.
12. Peter Fregene (GK)
13. Pat Ekeji, (D)
14. Alloysius Atuegbu, (MF)
15. Finidi George, (F)
16. Adokie Amiesimaka, (F)
Coach: Dan Anyiam
Obong Dele Adetiba
Broadcaster, PR & Advertising Guru
Alabi Aissien
Coach, Ex-international player
Formation:
1. Victor Enyeamah, (GK)
2. Patrick Ekeji, (RB)
3. Okey Isima, (LFB)
4. Muda Lawal, (DMF)
5. Victor Oduah, (CD) Capt.
6. Segun Olumodeji, (CD)
7. Segun Odegbami, (OR)
8. Odion Ighalo, (CF)
9. Rashidi Yekini, (CF)
10. Jay Jay Okocha, (MF)
11. Humphrey Edobor, (LW)
Subs.
12. Emmanuel Okala, (GK)
13. Stephen Keshi, (DF)
14. Thompson Usiyen, (F)
15. Nwankwo Kanu, (F)
16. Haruna Ilerika, (M)
Coach: Dan Anyiam
Formation: 4-3-3
(1980 Africa Cup of Nations Final Squad)
1. Best Ogedegbe (GK)
2. David Adiele (RB)
3. Okey Isima, (LFB)
4. Kadiri Ikhana, (DMF)
5. Christian Chukwu, (CD) Capt.
6. Tunde Bamidele, (CD)
7. Segun Odegbami, (OR)
8. Aloysius Atuegbu (CF)
9. Muda Lawal, (CF)
10. Felix Owolabi, (MF)
11. Adokie Amiesimaka (LW)
Subs.
12. Emmanuel Okala, (GK)
13. Godwin Odiye, (D)
14. Henry Nwosu, (MF)
15. Ifeanyi Onyedika, (F)
16. John Orlando, (D)
Coach: Alabi Aissien
Ade Ojeikhere
Journalist, Columnist
Patrick Ekeji
Ex-international, coach and administrator
Formation: 4-2-4
1. Emmanuel Okala, (GK)
2. Patrick Ekeji, (RB)
3. Fabian Duru, (LB)
4. Muda Lawal, (DMF)
5. Christian Chukwu, (CD) Capt.
6. Godwin Odiye, (CD)
7. Segun Odegbami, (OR)
8. Ben Popoola, (CMF)
9. Thompson Usiyen, (CF),
10. Kunle Awesu, (OL)
11. Adokiye Amiesimaka, (AMF)
Subs.
12. Olu Onagoruwa, (GK)
13. Segun Olumodeji, (D)
14. Patrick Noquapor, (M)
15. Emmanuel Onyeawuna, (F)
16. Alloy Atuegbu, (M)
Coach: Alabi Aissien
Formation 4-4-2
1. Vincent Enyeamah, (GK)
2. Anthony Igwe, (RB)
3. Celestine Babayaro, (LB)
4. Muda Lawal, (MF)
5. Uche Okechukwu, (CB) Capt.
6. Chidi Nwanu, (CB)
7. Segun Odegbami, (OL)
8. Sunday Oliseh, (MF)
9. Finidi George, (OR)
10. Rashidi Yekini, (CF)
11. Thompson Usiyen, (CF)
Subs.
12. Peter Rufai, (GK)
13. Joseph Yobo, (D)
14. Mikel Obi, (MF)
15. Nwankwo Kanu, (F)
16. Jay Jay Okocha, (MF)
Coach: Stephen Keshi
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