The 3rd of August in the year 1996 is a date that will forever remain fresh in the minds and heart of sport loving Nigerians as it was on that day the Nigerian Olympic team did the seemingly impossible - coming from a goal down to win the competition in the last 16 minutes of the game😱 ..I think those guys really deserved the accolades they got and even more..and to think that we played a formidable Argentine team that had the likes of Javier Zanetti, Ariel Ortega, Claudio Lopez (Gave Argentina an early lead goal in the match) and Herman Crespo who became a joint highest goal scorer of the competition together with Brazil's Bebeto after scoring a penalty kick against Nigeria that same day.
It was indeed a dream come true for the Nigerian team managed by Johannes Bonfrére as all hope seemed to be lost especially after Crespo netted from the penalty spot in the 49th minute of the game,tipping the winning scale back to favour the Argentines after Nigeria's Babayaro levelled the score with a powerful header that kissed the goal post before finding it's way to the warm embrace of the net
The Nigerian team pressed on and didn't buckle under the pressure of the Argentines and in the end, they were the better for it..Those were the glory days, when Nigeria ruled the world..then the players played for the love of the game, for the glory that comes with being victorious, they were "victory-hungry" and they gave their 100%
Many things have changed in 24 years though. The Nigerian team have seen ups and downs..one event I wouldn't forget is how the Super eagles were trolled by Ghana after we lost to them in a match..those guys had the guts to say we should be called Super Chickens😰😂 and not Super Eagles. Well, there's been improvements lately and one can only hope for the best
For your viewing pleasure, here's a link to a video showing all goals of the match
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TiUlc4eda5s
Let me cherish this throwback while I anticipate the champions league match between Real Madrid and Manchester City today.☺
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