Muda Lawal (holding the
cup) and Segun Odegbami (second from right) celebrate winning the African Cup
Winners Cup on December 12th 1976.
The Nigerian
team IICC “Shooting Stars” of Ibadan beat the Cameroonian side Tonnerre Kalala
4-1 in the first leg of the African Cup Winners Cup held on November 28th 1976.
While
Tonnerre were the defending champions, the semi-final between “Shooting Stars”
and the Egyptian side Zamalek, was arguably the final before the final. Each
side won their home leg 2-0, but the Nigerians won 5-3 in a penalty shoot out.
“Shooting
Stars” boasted a number of players who were regulars for the national team: the
Captain Samuel Ojebode, Segun Odegbami, and Muda Lawal. The goalkeeper Best
Ogedengbe would soon displace Emmanuel Okala as the first choice for the
national team, then known as the “Green Eagles”. But surpassing them all, at
least in later years, would be Cameroon’s future World Cup hero, Roger Milla.
“Shooting
Stars’” lead proved unassailable in the second leg which Tonnerre won by a
single goal at home in Yaounde.
© Adeyinka
Makinde (2018)
Adeyinka
Makinde is a writer based in London, England.
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