As Nigeria prepares for another crucial test against South Africa in Bloemfontein, sports analyst and commentator, Olalekan Shoyinka, popularly known as Ayinla Egba, has drawn inspiration from history, urging Nigerians not to lose faith in the Super Eagles.
Recalling what he described as the “Miracle of Ombudsman,” Shoyinka noted that just before the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Nigeria’s qualification chances appeared all but over, despite boasting some of the nation’s finest football talents.
“The Eagles had players like Jay-Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Celestine Babayaro, Yakubu Ayegbeni, Julius Aghahowa, Finidi George, Tijani Babangida and Sunday Oliseh, yet results on the road were poor. At a point, Liberia, inspired by George Weah, looked set to take the sole qualification ticket,” he recounted.
Nigeria had stumbled badly in the qualifiers—suffering defeats in Monrovia and Freetown, while only managing a single away point in three matches.
According to Shoyinka, hope seemed lost until a remarkable turnaround in July 2001 before 23,100 fans in Ombudsman, Sudan.
“That day, something magical happened. Okocha returned to the team, Aghahowa came alive, and Yakubu Ayegbeni struck twice as Nigeria thrashed Sudan 4-0 away from home. It was the result that reignited belief,” he explained.
The Eagles then went on to secure a decisive 3-0 win over Ghana in Port Harcourt — with Victor Agali and Tijani Babangida on target — to book their ticket to the Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup.
Shoyinka stressed that the lesson from that historic qualification run is clear: the Eagles can defy the odds if unity, determination and belief are restored.
“Today, many Nigerians may have written off the team, but just as it happened in 2001, we can shock the world again. Against South Africa in Bloemfontein, nothing is impossible,” he said.
The sports commentator urged fans to rally behind the team, insisting that history has shown the Super Eagles thrive in moments of adversity.
“Let us keep faith. Let us root for the Eagles. It is possible. It is achievable. The Eagles will do it,” Shoyinka concluded.
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