Sport: I shed tears when Onigbinde picked me for world cup – Opabunmi
Our Correspondent0
At 17 years and 101 days, he made history as the third youngest player to feature in the senior World Cup – at 2002 Korea/Japan finals.
But Femi Opabunmi’s talent thrust him into the spotlight at the Trinidad and Tobago 2001 FIFA Under-17 World Cup where he scored five goals to help Nigeria win silver.
The classy left-sided winger, who was 16 years during the tournament, also emerged as Trinidad and Tobago 2001 Bronze Ball winner. France’s Florent Sinama Pongolle won the Golden Ball with his French compatriot Anthony Le Tallec carting home the Silver Ball. Both players were instrumental in the Young Blues’ 3-0 defeat of the Golden Eaglets in the final.
Other players who distinguished themselves at Trinidad and Tobago 2001 finals were Carlos Tevez (Argentina), Niko Kranjcar (Croatia), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Fernando Torres (Spain), Javier Mascherano (Argentina), Pablo Zabaleta (Argentina), Maxi Lopez (Argentina), Gonzalo Rodriguez (Argentina), Eddie Johnson (USA) and Diego (Brazil).
It was no surprise that a host of European sides scrambled for Opabunmi’s signature after the competition.
The Trinidad and Tobago 2001 Silver Shoe winner (with five goals) was heavily linked with the likes of Lyon, Manchester United, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Valencia, Grasshoppers and Liverpool.
However, Swiss outfit Grasshoppers cemented their interest with a concrete bid at the end of the cadet World Cup and Opabunmi moved to Letzigrund, Zurich.
The youngster was still struggling to settle into his new environment and working hard on the pitch to get many games under his belt when coach Adegboye Onigbinde invited him to the Super Eagles ahead of a friendly match against Kenya in Lagos on May 4, 2002.
Onigbinde had just replaced Amodu Shaibu, who was sent packing by the Nigeria Football Federation after guiding the Eagles to a third-place finish at the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations in Mali.
The NFF was not happy with the country’s performance in the tournament and wielded the big stick. Amodu had battled against the odds to help the country qualify for the 2002 World Cup after Dutchman Bonfrere Jo dumped the team with the Eagles walking a tightrope following their shock 1-0 defeat by minnows Sierra Leone in Freetown.
But Amodu guided Nigeria to a 4-0 victory over Sudan at the El Meriekh Stadium in Omdurman, Sudan, on July 1, 2001. Austin Okocha opened the scoring for the Eagles with Yakubu Aiyegbeni scoring two goals while and Julius Aghahowa score a goal to seal victory for Nigeria.
The Eagles humiliated their bitter rivals Ghana 3-0 in the last qualifying game in Port Harcourt on July 28, 2001 to book their ticket to the World Cup co-hosted by Korea and Japan. Victor Agali scored the opening goal while Tijani Babangida bagged a brace in the encounter.
The NFF did not stop at sacking Amodu and his coaching staff – including current Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi – the body also stopped the Eagles first-teamers comprising captain Sunday Oliseh, Victor Ikpeba, Babangida, Agali, Finidi George, Aiyegbeni and Wilson Oruma from representing Nigeria at the World Cup following an overhaul of the Mali 2002 squad.
