Former Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo scored twice on his testimonial game on Friday in Port Harcourt but it was another ex-Eagles captain Austin Okocha that wowed the fans with his bag of tricks and exquisite passes. Team Nigeria beat Team World 5-4 in the encounter in which popular actor Osita Iheme, who is popularly called Pawpaw hit the back of the net.
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike took the ceremonial kick-off at the Adokiye Amiesiamaka stadium but he earned an ovation when he hit the bar from the penalty spot as Nigeria keeper Vincent Enyeama stood motionless. Team Super Eagles parading Enyeama, Danny Shittu, Ifeanyi Udeze, Godfrey Oboabona, Ahmed Musa, Emmanuel Emenike, Chukwu Ndukwe and Joel Obi, took the lead after five minutes through Emenike.
Cameroonian legend Samuel Eto’o then set up Team World’s equaliser, Ghanaian Sulley Muntari converting the ex-Barcelona star’s pass inside the box. Thereafter, it was an Okocha show of skills and ball juggling artistry. The ex-PSG man had a field day selling dummies here and there with his flick-ons, back heels, precise passes and more to the admiration of the fans.
Joel Obi volleyed in Ambrose’s cross to make it 2-1 but Eto’o waltzed past Oboabona and Shittu before rounding off Enyeama to make the score 2-2.
Fans were stupefied as Enyeama pursued Eto’o around the pitch. The Lille man caught him and then celebrated the goal with him. Emenike replied immediately using a series of leg-overs to dash past Dele Ayenugba in goal for Team World and put his side ahead 3-2.
Okocha then set up Musa on the left wing and the CSKA Moscow man passed to Emenike to shoot home.
Eto’o then held Okocha, calling on officials to substitute the ex-Bolton midfielder but the fans rejected his appeals.
Okocha returned and continued his dazzling displays.
Captain Yobo reduced the score stroking home Eto’o’s pass inside the box.
After the break, Yobo captained the Eagles and should have scored but his penalty was saved by Ayenugba. Osita Iheme, reduced the tally for Team World but it was too little too late as Yobo ended his final game a winner.