Okocha Recounts Players’ Sacrifices After NFF Failed to Pay for Accommodation at Atlanta ’96
- Jay Jay Okocha has revealed the hardships the Dream Team endured during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics in the United States
- Dubbed the 'golden generation', the Super Eagles clinched gold by defeating Brazil in the semis and Argentina in the final
- Okocha stated that the journey was far from easy, as he pointed out how he and his colleagues paid for their accommodation
Nigeria football legend Jay Jay Okocha has opened up on the tough times the team faced during the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, USA.
Okocha was part of the Dream Team that won the gold in the football event of that year's summer games, where they stunned the world.
Nigeria produced a comeback win over South American giants Brazil in the semi-final, with Kanu Nwankwo scoring the 'golden goal' in the 4-3 win.
Source: Getty Images
The Super Eagles went on to defeat Argentina 3-2 in the final, with Emmanuel Amuneke beating the offside trap off a free kick before slotting home.
The triumphant squad included Nigerian football greats Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, Emmanuel Amuneke, Tijani Babangida, Sunday Oliseh, and Nwankwo Kanu, per FIFA.
Nigeria's back home celebrate the historic feat, but more than 29 years later, Okocha stated that it was not a rosy journey.
He said, in a viral video:
"It's in record because we were the first African footballing team to win Atalanta 1996. It is special for me because of what we went through. People only see the end product, but they don't really see the process; what was that like?
"We camped in America, and we woke up one day, our training coach was gone, and the bus was also gone. They took you with the spare key because the FA hadn't paid.
"For like a week, the hotel gave us the same meal. It was just like rice and sauce every day, rice and sauce. They said we should be glad that we're still here because our FA had not paid for the food and for their accommodation.
"So, a few of us had to bring our card (debit) to pay for the accommodation and then went and rented minivans to stay in camp."
Bonfrere Jo calls out Nigerian government
Meanwhile, former national team coach Bonfrere Jo recently called out the Nigerian government for failing to fulfill the promise made to him 29 years ago.
The Dutchman led the squad to win the gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, as Nigeria became the first African country to win the football prize.
Source: Getty Images
The Nigerian government reportedly promised the Dutch manager and members of the squad landed properties in the country’s capital in Abuja.
Oliseh names best Super Eagles squad ever
Legit.ng earlier reported that Sunday Oliseh has sparked a debate on social media after naming the greatest ever Nigerian squad, among the three classes that won the Africa Cup of Nations.
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Nigeria has triumphed on the continent three times, in 1980, 1994, and 2013, coming close on multiple occasions, including four second-place finishes and eight third-place finishes.
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Source: Legit.ng
