Nigerian football legend Daniel Amokachi has spoken about some of the key ingredients responsible for the stunning success of the Dream Team at the Olympic Games in 1996.
A vibrant Nigeria side played swashbuckling football on their way to gold in the United States and Amokachi, who was an integral member of the squad, says a lot of factors were responsible for the monumental achievement.
The power-playing former Everton attacker recalled that the quality of opposition dispatched by the Nigeria side made the victories extra special.
“It was the manner in which we won the competition that made us incredibly happy.
“We always seemed to come back from behind in games – and against top opposition. We played the giants of North and South America; Mexico in the quarterfinal, Brazil in the semifinal and beat Argentina in the final,” Amokachi told www.fifa.com.
The man who pulled the strings from the dugout for Nigeria’s remarkable success was Dutchman Johannes Bonfrere.
Amokachi revealed that the country’s football chiefs had concluded plans to sack the coach just days before the start of the 1996 Olympics.
“The character, maturity and mentality of us all is what made us into champions.
“The love that we had for each other made it possible because we were one strong family. I remember when the (Nigerian) FA were unhappy with Jo Bonfrere and they decided to bring in another coach and lay him off just a couple of days before the Olympics.
"We were already in America and as a team we said: ‘If you’re sending him away, then you’ll need to find new players.’
“That spirit alone showed and made us believe that we were all in this together and that it would make us into champions,” he said.
Bonfrere was to have an important role to play in Amokachi’s barnstorming tournament which culminated in a well-taken goal against Argentina in the final of the men’s football event.
“I had a wonderful tournament.
“My coach said to me. ‘To really show your ability, you need to score. You’re doing everything right, you’re working hard for the team, creating chances for the team and if you can get a goal in the final, that would make you stand above the rest.’
“I ended up scoring in the final which contributed in helping us win that gold medal,” he said.
Nigeria’s current class of under-23s have commenced their campaign at the 2016 Olympics and they won their won their first game 5-4 against Japan.
Amokachi says it is almost impossible to draw comparisons between the current crop and his generation but is cautiously optimistic about their chances in Rio.
“Every generation has their moment.
“The current team have a coach (Samson Siasia) who is with them and they did well in qualification.
“They have to go there and be themselves, enjoy every second of the experience game by game and we’ll see what happens,” he said.
Nigeria will next meet Sweden in Group B of the 2016 Olympics in Rio and it is live on your world of champions, SuperSport.
credit: supersport