Atlanta 1996

When it comes to history, I have a very poor record, and I always feel envious of those people who know all histories as if they were born with the knowledge. However, the only ones I find interest in are the sporting parts, and that's because I'm a very patriotic person when it comes to Nigerian football.

Olympics!

When Nigeria recorded its first biggest history in football, I wasn't sensible then. In fact, I didn't understand the significant value of the Olympics tournament until some years ago when I saw how it's measured, like that of the FIFA World Cup. Ever since then, I haven't missed any tournaments, and I enjoy all the sporting activities.

The first and only time Nigerians have won a gold medal in Olympic history was in 1996. The tournament was hosted in Atlanta, and all the highly rated top countries when it comes to football were there, which makes someone wonder: how did Nigeria pass through the horrific road to clinch the medal? Because we were the least of the underdogs.

The truth is that the squad that made the magic is still referred to as the best Nigerian football squad, with the likes of Jay Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, Taribo West, Sunday Oliseh, and others.

The final match was between Nigeria and Argentina, which ended 3:2 in favour of Nigeria.
But before the final match, the most talked-about match was the semi-final between Nigeria and Brazil. The match was so interesting, suspenseful, and emotional to the point that a song was generated from it.

🎶When Nigeria wins Brazil, When Nigeria wins Brazil ooo, Bebeto dey cry....🎶

| Semi-final match between Nigeria and Brazil |

Image source

On the day of this match, Nigeria was rated the underdogs because the Brazilian team was well-studded with machine-like players, the likes of Ronaldo, Bebeto, Roberto. While Nigeria also was studded but not as powerful as that of the Brazil team.

The match started and in just a few minutes, Brazil scored, and within the interval of 10 minutes, Nigeria equalized, making it 1-1.
The match continued, Brazil scored twice in the first half, making it 3-1 and by that time, all hope was lost because it's nearly impossible to score Brazil in the second half with the formation they were playing.

The Brazilians were jubilating already because they've won, but as victory would have it, Nigeria found the Brazilian net with a goal in the 80+ minutes making it 3-2. And by then, the Brazilians were still winning and were assured already for victory.
Just the last minute of extra time, Nigeria won a throw-in, Jay Jay Okocha picked the ball and made a long throw into the 18-yard box of the Brazilians, the ball landed on Kanu Nwankwo's leg, he played a fast one on the keeper and the defenders, and boom! It's a goal!

That moment, the whole Nigeria, the whole Africa woke up from the slumber in the middle of the night, there were noises everywhere. It was just like a dream. So the match ended in the full 90 minutes with 3-3 which they went into extra time of 30 mins(15 mins each).

By then, FIFA was using the Golden Goal Rule Which meant that in extra time, anyone that scored a goal would automatically become the winner and the game would end on the spot.

Guess what?

The match started, a very intense one, and before they knew it, Nigeria balled down to their 18-yard box, the ball was passed down to Kanu Nwankwo, and he forced the ball into the net and it's a gooooooaaaaaaal!💥

Image

This time around, not just Nigeria or Africa was high, the whole world went into gyration.

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The thing is that, I am able to narrate it like this because I've replayed the match times without number.
The history I love to keep reading and watching because it gives me a lot of joy.

Thank you for reading.

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This is my entry to day 26th in the #Marchinleo prompt. Want to join us, read here

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