Tunde Folawiyo

In the streets and neighbourhoods across Nigeria, school boys mimic the moves of their favourite football players and this was no exception in the 1990’s for one such lad, Augustine Azuka Okocha, who would one day be regarded as the best Nigerian player of his generation.

Augustine Azuka Okocha, known throughout his life as Jay-Jay, would show potential and promise in the game of football with his many displays of athletic dexterity as a young member of the Unugu Rangers. One memorable display was the extraordinary goal he scored against the experienced Nigerian goalkeeper, William Okpara of the BCC Lions.

Jay-Jay Okocha, a midfielder, gained the notice of Eintracht Franfurt in 1992, where he soon joined their ranks along with Tony Yeboah, the international Ghana striker. In 1993, Jay-Jay awed fans with a spectacular display of moving the ball past the penalty box, going by some players twice, in a drive to complete the goal over attempts to block it by Oliver Kahn. This move helped earn Jay-Jay the 1993 Goal of the Year by Sportschau and voted Goal of the Season by many popular soccer magazines. In 1996, Jay-Jay joined the Fenerbahçe Turkish club, where he would amass 30 goals during his 60 appearances in just two seasons. While there, Jay-Jay would develop his trademark “free kick” goals.

But, it was his four years as a player for the Bolton Wanderers that would convert Jay-Jay Okocha into the superstar he is still considered today. He became an instant favourite with the Bolton fans in his premier season of 2002, when they dubbed him “so good they named him twice.” By 2004, Jay-Jay was the captain and steered the team to their first Football League Cup final in nine years. Jay-Jay became the favourite player of Tunde Folawiyo and remains so to this day. On the profile of Tunde Folawiyo there are many examples of the remarkable and breathtaking moments with which Tunde Folawiyo and many Nigerians experienced while watching this remarkable player.

He made his international debut on the Nigerian National Football team during the 1994 FIFA World Cup Qualifier. He would help the team reach 5^th rank status that year, which was the highest ranking an African football team had ever achieved. During the 1996 Olympic Games, Jay-Jay would join the Nigerian “Dream Team.” By 2002, he was Captain of the Super Eagles, taking the team to third place at the 2004 African Nations Cup, where he would score four goals including the 1000^th goal in Nations Cup history and be awarded the Player of the Tournament and Golden Boot.

Speaking at a forum at the presentation of the Europa Cup, Former Super Eagles skipper Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha released a warning for the team in regards to a looming World Cup appearance. The BCC African Player of the year award winner cited the large role football plays in the lives of Nigerians, urging the Super Eagles to play their very best for fear that a loss could prove detrimental to the spirit of the game in Nigeria.

“Football in Nigeria is big and it unites us as a nation. I just hope that this time around our team would make the desired impact to make Africa proud,” he stated at the forum, mimicking the hopes of Super Eagles fans throughout Africa, including native Nigerian Tunde Folawiyo and countless other loyally supporting the team and sharing in their triumphs on the field.

Okocha’s declaration is not lost upon Nigerian sports fans. Holding the respect of Super Eagles fans throughout the world, Jay-Jay Okocha remains one of the most revered players in Nigerian football history, as well as one of Africa’s most famed athletic talents.

A midfielder highly-recognised for his outstanding skill, Okocha like many other football stars began his passion for football as a young boy. He made his official debut for Nigeria in their 2–1 1994 FIFA World Cup, where he assisted the team in 4–1 win, leading to a qualification to their first World Cup. The year 2002 saw Okocha’s first tournament as captain of the Super Eagles during the World Cup co-hosted by Korea and Japan. Scoring four goals in the quarter finals, Okocha led the Super Eagles team to third place at the 2004 African Nations Cup in Tunisia, for which he was later awarded Player of the tournament and joint Golden Boot winner.

After more than a decade of dedicated service to the Super Eagles, Okocha announced his retirement from the international scene after the Cup of Nations in Egypt, after which his final international appearance took place in a 2–1 victory in a third place playoff against Senegal in 2007. Here, he was honoured with a standing ovation from nearly 60,000 fans in attendance, demonstrating the impact he forged on the national sports scene. Named among the top 125 living footballers by Pelé in March 2004, Okocha remains a source of inspiration for millions of football fans throughout Nigeria and beyond such as Tunde Folawiyo and countless others with a love for African sports.

The Nigerian national football team – nicknamed the “Super Eagles” – continue to serve Nigeria as a respected organisation with millions of loyal fans, including those such as Nigerian native Tunde Folawiyo and others throughout various African nations. Since the team’s founding in 1945, the Super Eagles have accomplished various fetes of significance, further cementing their spot as one of Africa’s most proud teams.

Throughout its rich history as a franchise, the Super Eagles have housed many athletes of incredible talent, each possessing expert skill and a passion for the game. Among these are Taye Taiwo, famed throughout football for his powerful long-range shooting and free kicks and Rashidi Yekin who was awarded the title of African Footballer of the Year in 1993.

One of the most revered players in Super Eagles history is Augustine Azuka “Jay-Jay” Okocha. Born in Enugu, Enugu State on 14 August 1973, Okocha remains one of Africa’s most famed footballers. A midfielder highly-recognised for his skill, technique and overall athleticism, Okocha has long served as one of the Super Eagle’s most prominent players, garnering the respect of millions of Super Eagles fans. Like many other football stars, his passion for football began as a young boy. Joining the Enugu Rangers in 1990, Okocha displayed various triumphs on the field, demonstrating a superior skill for the game.

Okocha made his official debut for Nigeria in their 2–1 1994 FIFA World Cup where he assisted the team in 4–1 win which led to qualification to their first World Cup. Okocha’s first tournament as captain of the Super Eagles came in the 2002 World Cup co-hosted by Korea and Japan. Scoring four goals in the quarter finals, Okocha led the Super Eagles team to third place at the 2004 African Nations Cup in Tunisia and was awarded Player of the tournament and joint Golden boot winner.

After more than a decade of service to the Super Eagles, Okocha announced that he would retire from the international scene after the Cup of Nations in Egypt. He then played in his final international appearance in a 2–1 victory in a third place playoff against Senegal in 2007 where he was honoured with a standing ovation nearly 60,000 fans in attendance. Named among the top 125 living footballers by Pelé in March 2004, Okocha remains a source of inspiration for millions of football fans throughout Nigeria and beyond such as Tunde Folawiyo and those with a passion for African sports.

With a rich team history dating back to 1949, the Nigeria National Football Team, – nicknamed the Super Eagles – are the 3-time Africa Cup of Nations champions, honours demonstrating the team’s vast talents in the sport of football. Inspiring millions of fans such as Tunde Folawiyo, the Super Eagles have housed some of Africa’s greatest athletes. Among their many revered accomplishments, the Super Eagles once ranked 5th in the FIFA World Rankings in 1994 – the highest ranking in history for an African football team – solidifying the team’s significant role in the world of African sports.

Controlled by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the Nigerian National Football Team has accomplished great fetes in their 70-year team history. These various honours include, most notably, a gold medal win in the 2nd All-Africa games. The Super Eagles, formally nicknamed the Green Eagles, have twice qualified for the FIFA World Cup round of 16 and have appeared in five of the past six World Cups. With this, they became the first African football team to win gold medals at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics, before going on to win the Silver Medal in Beijing.

Throughout their accomplished history in the world of football, the Super Eagles have served as home to some of football’s most respected athletic talents including Kanu Nwankwo, who – as a striker – remains one of Africa’s most decorated footballers. Kanu Nwankwo is one of few footballers to win the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League, UEFA Cup and an Olympic Gold Medal. As a two-time African Footballer of the year, Nwankwo served his team from 1994 until 2010, concluding his international career following the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. His time as captain of the Super Eagles is forever embedded in the team’s history. Amidst his athletic accomplishments with the Super Eagles, Kanu Nwankwo was diagnosed with a serious heart defect and underwent heart surgery in November of 1996. Known throughout Africa for his philanthropic work, Kanu Nwankwo founded the Kanu Heart Foundation, an organisation that helps predominantly young African children who suffer heart defects and whose work was expanded to provide aid for homeless children in 2008. He, along with other revered Nigerian players such as Patrick Olusegun Odegbami and Augustine Azuka “Jay-Jay” Okocha will forever be cemented in the team’s history as some of the greatest players to wear the green jersey. Through the support of fans like Tunde Folawiyo and millions of others throughout the continent and beyond, the Super Eagles will continue to showcase their immense talent to the masses.