Group Managing Director and Executive Consultant of Complete Communications Limited (CCL) Dr. Mumini Alao, has authored and presented a new compelling book titled “The Making Of Nigeria’s Dream Team: Football Gold Medal Winners At Atlanta ‘96 Olympic Games.”
The book presentation took place on Sunday, 12 June, 2022 at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, during the 2021 The Ballers Awards ceremony.
Present at the event were former Nigeria international Chief Segun Odegbami who wrote the Foreword of the book; Chairman Lagos State Sports Commission, Sola Aiyepeku; Nigeria Football Federation First Vice President, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi; Alhaja Medinat Temilade Alao, wife of Dr. Alao; veteran sports journalist, Kunle Solaja; renowned sports presenters Deji Omotoyinbo, Charles Anazodo, Temisan Okomi, Mozez Praiz and Matthew Edafe, among other guests.
Nigeria became the first African country to win Olympic football gold medal when the country’s team achieved the historic feat at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, USA.
Dr. Alao present his new book to the guests during the launch
Led by Dutch coach, Johannes Bonfrere, the U-23 Eagles, popularly nicknamed the ‘Dream Team’ had superstars like Nwankwo Kanu, Sunday Oliseh, Victor Ikpeba, Uche Okechukwu, Austin Okocha, Daniel Amokachi and Dosu Joseph.
Other standout players in the triumphant squad were Emmanuel Amuneke, Celestine Babayaro, Tijjani Babangida, Mobi Oparaku, Garba Lawal and Wilson Oruma.
After advancing from a tricky group, the Dream Team defeated Mexico 2-0 in the quarter-final, came from behind to beat a star-studded Brazilian side 4-3 in the semi-final before pipping another South American powerhouse Argentina 3-2 in the final.
Dr. Alao explained his motivation for writing the book….
“As editor of Complete Football International magazine in 1996, I had the privilege of covering Nigeria’s “Dream Team” as we called them very closely throughout their journey to the Gold medal. I also reported that year’s Olympic Games for Complete Sports newspaper and the BBC Africa Service while traveling with the football team.
“When Nigeria eventually won the Gold medal, I decided to write the book because it was our greatest ever achievement in world football and I felt that the story of how we did it should be preserved for posterity.
“Along the line, I misplaced the original manuscript and forgot about the project. But during the Covid 19 lockdown in 2020, I made a determined search to recover the manuscript and finally completed the book.”
Alao further explained why the book was unveiled at the Ballers Awards.
“The Ballers Awards honoured me with the Icon of the Nigeria Sports Industry Award in 2020 which I acknowledged at the back of the book. When I spoke to the organizers, they were delighted and graciously agreed to include my book presentation in their programme for this year’s event. I will like to thank Gbenga Salu and his fantastic team again for the honour done to me.”
Alao is also graceful for the support he received from other people.
“I would have dedicated the book to my late boss and mentor, Dr. Emmanuel Sunny Ojeagbase, but it had been printed before he passed on. He gave me total freedom as editor of Complete Football, Complete Football Extra and Complete Football International magazines. May his generous soul continue to rest in peace.
“I thank Chief Segun Odegbami for writing an enthralling foreword to the book. People have to read the foreword to appreciate what I’m talking about. It is a great appetizer to the main course.
“Also, I thank all my former colleagues at Complete Communications Limited led by former Complete Sports editor, Samm Audu, for their vicarious contribution to the book.”
Dr. Alao provides a guarantee of enjoyment and satisfaction for anyone that reads the book.
“There are lots of previously unpublished insider information and exclusive interviews in the book. Football fans who experienced the Olympic triumph in 1996 will be taken on a trip of beautiful nostalgia while those who were too young to witness it will get a sense of history firsthand. I guarantee that if anyone starts reading this book on Nigeria’s Dream Team, he will not drop it until he gets to the last page.”
HOW TO BUY THE BOOK…..
The Making of Nigeria’s Dream Team: Football Gold Medal Winners At Atlanta ‘96 is available on Amazon.com (International delivery) and JUMIA.com (Local delivery). Please click on any of the links below to place your order.
By James Agberebi
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COMMENTS
These people are still stuck on the past.. I mean for how long do they expect Nigeria to be riding on this 1996 achievements. Teams who have won it and moved on since i.e, Brazil etc.. Yet Odegbami and Co. want us to be stuck on the past whilst sabotaging our current golden Generation whom if handled wisely and without thier current sentimental meddling will out do 90’s Super Eagles. The mere sight of this Odegbami these days infuriates me! SMH!!. Dream Team ko Dream Team ni.. Abegi Move on Jare!!!!
Who even gave this man award sef.. what he deserves is a huge slap across the face and band from reporting anything pertaining Super Eagles. Instead of putting his money (if he indeed still has any) where his mouth is and helping developing NPFL to the standards of the current League pace setters in Africa i.e. Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and South Africa. He is trying to Sabotage SE with his destructive suggestions on who should select. Imagine this man gets NFF presidency that will be the end of our Golden Generations Fortunes.. Some body should ask him if a whole MLS (American football League) Prioritises European Players ahead of thier local players who is NPFL to do any different these individuals should stay far away from Super Eagles dealings!
Mr man abeg if you have nothing meaningful to add to this article, i would suggest you save your data. This 2 men if you don’t know contributed immensely to the golden generation of that time. Both men were attached to both teams, if i could remember odegbami was team manager for the super eagles at both Tunisia 94 and USA 94. So please leave them alone, this are men that have offered so much for the national team. If they criticzing the current situations of things in the national team, its because they know better. Please what golden generation you have now. Is it the overhyped players in the team, because i don’t get your point. Your golden generation should be playing at the world cup by now not beating teams like Sao tome to impress who exactly. The man still has money and have never heard him soliciting for money. Last time i checked he was running for governor of his state. So levave baba sege alone. You sha sabi where his soccr academy is, go there and slap him
It is High time Odegbami and Co stand up and respect our new Golden Generation.. enough of 96 we salute them but it is time to look forward to our bright future led by Ndidi, Osimhen and Calvin Bassey
Mathematical Segun Odegbami [MON] still looking handsome and dapper after all these years. You and your generation of Nigerian players made us walk tall in those days in the knowledge that we were a feared force in football on the African continent. We will always respect and appreciate you and your illustrious colleagues for the honor and pride you brought to Nigeria in your playing-days.