Former Nigerian international, Chief Segun Odegbami, has given an insight into the truth behind the widely circulated myth about a match between India and Nigeria which ended 99 – 1.
According to Vanguard, Odegbami revealed that it was just a mere fantasy, or better called a myth.
A popular myth said the Indian national football team beat its Nigerian counterpart 99 – 1 in a match by using voodoo, which made the world governing body, FIFA banned on India from participating in any competitive match.
Some versions of the myth spoke about among Nigerian football enthusiasts while growing up bequeathed to them by the elderly either in schools or communities.
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The most popular version of the Nigeria vs India match suggests that the Super Eagles were in a match against India, possibly at the National Stadium in Lagos, but possibly not.
There was a version that said the ball would turn to a stone when Nigerian players wanted to kick it, while another one said it turned into a lion.
Also, while one version of the myth said it was a courageous Nigerian player – Muda Lawal who defied the odds and shot the ball-turned stone to give the country a goal, another account said it was Teslim Balogun popularly known as Thunder Balogun who netted for Nigeria.
Another story said that the Nigerian player who scored the Nigerian goal died on the field of play and immortalised as a hero.
It was also said that the Indian team decided that they would concede defeat to the Super Eagles if the Nigerian team could score one goal.
A narrative pointed to Nigeria football legend, Samuel Okwaraji of blessed memory who said to be brave enough to dare the Indians and managed to score the solitary goal for Nigeria, despite the ball turning into a massive stone and costing him his life in the process.
While responding, Odegbami who laughed when asked to shed more light on the myth, said it was a mere superstition.
Odegbami said it was not true that he also met the myth while growing up and he made findings to be certain about it.
“It is not true. It is not true. Just leave it. There is no such thing. We (my colleagues and I) too heard it. I have researched it and it was not true,” Odegbami said.
