It is nothing new to be an African footballer of the Year in Nigeria. It certainly does not give anyone the right to be uncouth and disrespectful to those who have done more in the country’s colours. Having said that, it is on brand for a generation with no sense of history and nothing too sacred for them to disrespect.
In his track documentary titled ‘Making of Champions’, Bambo Akani went to Jamaica to see what it is the Caribbean Island country was doing that has made them so competitive and successful in the track sprints. Akani was accompanied on this trip by Nigeria Olympic relay gold medalist Ene Udo-Obong.
Somewhere in the programme, one of the Jamaicans interviewed looked at Udo-Obong and said to him, “You should be at the front of Nigeria’s revival, man. Emerging Nigerian talents should look at you and many of your mates who won medals for Nigeria and then use it to launch themselves.”
What the man did not know was that Nigerians have zero respect for actions of past heroes. Nigeria and Nigerians hate their history and in the main, don’t consider past achievements.
Nigeria’s former national anthem had a line, “The labours of our heroes past shall never be in vain..“. It is absolutely appropriate that the new administration came in and with very little debate in the House, with no consultation with the citizens, the anthem was binned. That’s it. End of. Chucked away.
Nigerians respect the achievements of Nigerian footballers at their European clubs far above what these same players do in the green-white-green of Nigeria. It is something so very Nigerian yet so very pathetic. Especially when you consider that what a Nigerian can actually beat his/her chest to call his/her own is that which is Nigerian.
In 2013, a bunch of talented and focused young men went to South Africa for that year’s AFCON. They were given very little chance of doing very well especially as some of the big hitters were not invited by Stephen Keshi. At the end, they were African Champions. The country’s third and last AFCON win to date.
The likes of Sunday Mba (L), Elderson Echiejile, Efe Ambrose, Godfrey Oboabona, Juwon Oshaniwa, Ogenyi Onazi, Brown Ideye are AFCON winners. They have won for Nigeria probably the only senior tournament that Nigeria ever has a chance of winning. However, because they have not played for big English Premier League/LaLiga/Serie A side where they win a league title or reach a UEFA Champions League final, the average Nigerian on the streets does not recognise them.
Kanu Nwankwo does not have an AFCON winners’ medal.
There is a generation of Nigerians who have grown up taking participation at the FIFA World Cup for granted. They are also same generation who are more passionate about European football and football clubs than they are of the Nigeria Super Eagles.
There is an older generation of Nigerians who knew how difficult it was to make it to a FIFA World Cup and so they celebrate those set of players managed by Clemens Westerhof that got Nigeria over the line and into the US ’94 World Cup. These set of players opened the floodgates for Nigerian players to be in demand at European clubs. They are mostly described affectionately or derisively as the ‘Class of 94’.
Rashidi Yekini (93), Emmanuel Amuneke (94), Kanu Nwankwo (96), Victor Ikpeba (97) and Kanu again in 1999 have been crowned African Footballer of the Year. All these players have represented Nigeria at the FIFA World Cup – Yekini, Amuneke and Ikpeba have World Cup goals.
Until a Nigerian footballer scores at least 6 goals at an AFCON tournament as Nigeria wins a 4th title, then follows it up with at least 3 goals at FIFA World Cup, then he has done nothing to make him think he is better than any former Super Eagle.
It is mostly (but not limited to) the “cancel” culture. Absolutely no regard for anything. They revel in it, and the ‘safety’ of Social Media, hiding behind keypads to rain disrespect on whoever, makes it easier.
Hopefully, many will acquire sense as they grow older.
I think you have raised a salient point here and it is something that I also feel quite passionately about.