Former Nigerian winger, Tijani Babaginda has made a startling revelation on why former Super Eagles coach, Clemence Westerhof dropped him from the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations and 1994 FIFA World Cup squad in the United States.
Babaginda, who questioned Westerhof’s rationale for his omission from the final 23-man squad, said that his decision not to allow the Dutch tactician to manage him as a player led to his omission.
Recall that Babaginda was in the best form of his life for Roda JC in the Eredivisie when he was dropped for both competitions, but that didn’t deter him as he went ahead to win the Olympic gold with the Dream Team in 96′.
However, in a chat with an online newspaper, Punch, Babaginda stated that he would have been instrumental for the team at the World Cup if he was selected.
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“I was too good to be left out of the squads to the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup in the US,” Babangida said during a media parley.
“I had issues with the coach (Westerhof), who wanted to manage me and I disagreed.
“With my pace then I would have helped the Eagles. It was very painful to be left out of the team to those tournaments in 1994 because I knew I deserved to be in that team.
“When Emmanuel Amuneke and Daniel Amokachi were injured against Italy, my pace would have been helpful to the team if I was included.”
By Augustine Akhilomen
5 Comments
You people should ask him WHOM WOULD HE HAVE DISPLACED IN THAT STAR STUDDED SIDE OF 1994. Please these retired players should keep quite and enjoy their retirement in PEACE
You people should ask him WHOM WOULD HE HAVE DISPLACED IN THAT STAR STUDDED SIDE OF 1994. Please these old players should keep quite and enjoy their retirement in PEACE
Truly speaking, i cannot imagine whom Babangida would have replaced in that 1994
nation’s cup and the world cup squad at all.
Westerhof actually responded when asked about Babangida. He said some people from high places insisted that he must take Babangida to the World Cup but he asked them who must he drop for Babangida? There’s Finidi, Amunike, Ikpeba and Siasia often operate from the wings then as Amokachi/Yekini centre pairing was the mainstay. The “Ogas on Top” then insisted that he must make a plan, so he called Ikpeba in to discuss with him on the possibility of swapping him for Babangida but Ikpeba would hear non of such nonsense. So Westerhof then applied his mind, and stood his ground that he cannot drop Ikpeba who plays well in Monaco for a Rhoda JC player and that settled it then.
This interview is available on YouTube for those who will want to listen to it.
So these Ex-International are fond of sometimes making up stories to elicit sympathy or stare up unnecessary sentiments against certain coaches. They needs to sit down and enjoy their retirement in peace if they have nothing more to offer to improve the current Super Eagles performance.
in 1998 TJ Babaginda was given a bonafide chance.. Sad we didnt go o Afcon 1996 & 1998 where he could have shown his talent.. In WC98, TJ only scored 1 goal.. For me 1994 TJ wasnt completely ready and his end product was poor then despite his good running skills.