Former Nigeria international Emeka Ezeugo has revealed the role he played which saw Victor Ikpeba make the squad to the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Completesports.com reports.
Ezeugo disclosed this in an interview on Brila FM on Sunday.
Both Ezeugo and Ikpeba were included in the Eagles 22-man squad to the 1994 World Cup.
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While Ezeugo only played in one game, coming on as a second half substitute in the 3-0 opening group game win against Bulgaria, Ikpeba was on the bench throughout the tournament.
Ikpeba went on to represent Nigeria at the 1998 World Cup, scoring the only goal in the 1-0 win against Bulgaria in the second group game.
“I was responsible for Victor Ikpeba going to the World Cup,” Ezeugo said.
“On the night before we travelled to the United States, Victor was told he is not going to the World Cup, that (Tijani) Babangida would replace him because the team doesn’t reflect national character, that there is no northerner in the team. This was order from above.
“Victor came to my room crying and I went to (Clemens) Westerhof’s room late at night woke him up and said ‘listen if Victor doesn’t go to the World Cup if you enter that flight from Nigeria to the United States just know I’m not the one telling you. That’s what I told him. Then I said Victor let’s go.
“Westerhof changed his clothes came to my room later and then explained to me the pressure he is getting from above. I told him ‘listen we will travel with Babangida but Victor’ s name will be in the list’. And that’s what he did, we travelled with Babangida as the 23rd player but the tournament was only for 22 players.”
The Senegal 1992 Africa Cup of Nations bronze medal winner went on to state that English-born Nigerian striker Efan Ekoku has no business going to the World Cup.
Ekoku was part of the 1994 AFCON winning side and featured in only one game which was in the 2-0 quarter-final win against Zaire (now DR Congo).
He made the squad to the United States for the World Cup but never saw one minute of action.
“Efan was not suppose to be in the team but he was in the team.”
By James Agberebi
3 Comments
I see a Clemens Westerhof, I see a Gernot Rohr. When your hands are tied, you need the wisdom of an elderly man to untie your hands.
Only wise men can last long on this bed of thorns and roses. To lead a Nigerian team you need more than “Tech or Tact”, It worked for Clemens Westerhof, and its working for Gernot Rohr.
See who is talking. What influence does a bench warmer, who himself had no business in that squad got where players like the Big Boss Keshi, Rufai and Yekini held sway??
Mtcheeeeewww.
Imagine him questioning the participation of Efan Ekoku who was Norwich City’s top scorer and top 7 goalscorer in the EPL in 1993. A clubless player who was playing in India or wherever that year.
Infact some players paid their way to that competition; the likes of Michael Emenalo who at that pointvwas playing’Sunday Sunday’ football in USA. He took the place of Nduka Ugbade, a mainstay of that squad from 1992.
If not for outcries from the media and soccer enthusiasts, Chidi Nwanu wouldn’t have made that squad.
You’re very correct about that. I remember.