After the success of the coaching trio of Ahmodu Shuaibu, Stephen Keshi and Joe Erico whom I labelled the three musketeers, in getting the Super Eagles through to the FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan 2002, the focus shifted to Mali, host of the 2002 AFCON.
However, politics of the world cup had tended to overshadow discussions on the AFCON which was scheduled before the world cup. Many stakeholders saw the tournament as a dress rehearsal for the summer Mundial. Many suggested Nigeria should go to Mali and emerge as AFCON champions as a bold statement to the world of football in Korea/Japan.
The 23rd edition of AFCON in Mali regrouped across the host cities of Bamako, Kayes, Mopti and Sikasso to provide a vibrant atmosphere for the teams, journalists and officials during the tournament which began from January 19 to February 13, 2002.
Many pundits believed the tournament in Mali was merely to fulfil the schedules as African players who were going to the world cup would not give their all for fear of injuries that may prevent them from going to the world cup.
In all, and on the contrary, the tournament was filled with stunning performances, unexpected results and unforgettable moments with Cameroon emerging as the winners after defeating Senegal by 3-2 on penalties in their fifth AFCON triumph.
For the Radio Nigeria crew, the key moment was the semi final clash with the Terranga Lions of Senegal at the Stade Modibo Keita in Bamako, the capital city on February 7, 2002. The two sides stood out in the competition and many Nigerians were praying we should never get to meet them in the semi-final as they easily recall that it was the Terranga Lions that the gave the Super Eagles a tough game when Nigeria co-hosted with Ghana in 2000 also in the semi-final.
While that was the issue troubling the minds of Nigerians back home, the DG, called to know our formation for the D-day. When he was told that I was already in Kayes for the second semi-final. The arrangement we made was that I should lead the commentaries of the second semi-final while Richard Asiegbu leads in our match with Senegal, but Eddie Iroh would not have it our way. He ordered that I return immediately to Bamako to lead the commentary. The snag was that there were no commercial flights between the two towns, and this order was coming at about 9pm, the night before the match.
Order is order, and the DG has spoken, but only a miracle could help, but how? I couldn’t sleep, thinking of what next, but behold the morning of the match, it looked like a tragedy. I was with Etubong Paul Bassey who was part of CAF officials in Kayes, but there was still no solution in sight. An idea rushed to me that perhaps if I went to do airport, I might see a chartered aircraft that may carry the officials and may be heading to Bamako. I rushed to the airport, discussed with the airport manager, who gave me no clue.
Meanwhile the match will kick-off at 5pm and it was already 10am. Kayes, a city in Western Mali was about 423 kilometers to Bamako and for somebody to get to Bamako on time and be ready to run the commentary for the match must do it by flight. There was no aircraft on the ground, but as fate would have it, a chopper landed unannounced and disembarked its passengers without any announcement.
They speak French and Wollof, I speak English and Igbo, I need them, they don’t need me, but I must communicate. I went to the Airport Manager spoke, gesticulated, mimed the French, and luckily somebody came towards me, pulled up my accreditation and took me across and whispered to me, c’est ne pas possible, and I said, c’est possible! In fact, this reminded me of the words Richard and Paul used when I told them I was going back to Bamako. They chorused “mission impossible.” I jumped out and marched straight towards the aircraft and met with the Pilot, when I spoke English, he spoke back in French, but somehow, he asked, Bamako? and I said yes, he shook his head and I started begging him in English, in Igbo, but he kept on saying “delegacion” and I said “Oui”. He took me by the hand and took me to the last seat in the aircraft.
All through he was shaking his head, and I was saying “oui”. I took out $200, tried to squeeze it into his hand, he refused and walked away, but I sat tight, buried myself in the seat, took out a magazine written in French and was pretending to be reading it. Not long, a man that appeared to be their supervisor entered the aircraft and took a long look at me, I was eyeing him but at the same time pretending to be reading. He went back to the cockpit but returned shortly afterwards, this time he spoke to me, I showed him my accreditation tag, he read it over and over and my instinct said I should give him the $200 dollars. I did, but he gestured to me to hold it.
After about 30 minutes the aircraft was filled and luckily there were a few empty seats. Our eyes met and he gave me a glance; he was the pilot. As he started closing the door, I said inside me, “mission possible”, Act 1 scene 1. My heart was pounding. Act 1 scene2: the aircraft taxied to the runway ready to take off. Act 1 scene 3: We were airborne, and my mind came down. In an hour or so, we had started landing and we landed. I went to the cockpit as we were disembarking, gave the man the money again, he still refused, well, “Mission Impossible” had become possible and I was at the stadium before Richard and Allen Agbo came. They thought they had seen a ghost, but it was me and again Senegal spoilt our fun through goals from Papa Bouba Diop in the 54th minute and Salif Diao in the 97th minute. Julius Aghahowa had levelled up in the 86th minute before Diao’s winning goal.
Trust Nigerians, our sins found us out that day. Squabbles over Players’ allowances, the consortium of coaches led by Chief Onigbinde blamed the loss to the blatant refusal by Ahmodu and his gang to implement their suggestions. Chief Onigbinde recalled that anytime he approached Ahmodu, he would walk away from him. Players’ revolt was magically averted but the coaches were not as lucky as a decision was taken that the “three coaches had no technical depth” to take the Super Eagles to the world cup in Korean/Japan.
In the very typical Nigerian way, the national team was immediately disbanded and Austin Okocha was asked to act in place of Sunday Oliseh as the captain. We all know how the World Cup panned out.
