FLASHBACK: How Much Did Nigeria Pay To Bring Brazil To Abuja In 2003?

How did Captain Jay-Jay Okocha react to the 3-0 lose against Brazil?….

What did Brazil coach Carlos Pereira say about Super Eagles

Brazil Pocket N34m against Eagles, Match Organizers OSMI Reveals

CONTRARY to reports (not in Complete Sports) that the Brazilian national team collected a whopping $1.5million US Dollars to play the 11 June, 2003 grade A international friendly against Nigeria, we can authoritatively reveal today that the Samba Boys got only $250,000.

A top official of Optima Sports Management International (OSMI), organizers of the highly successful game who craved anonymity told Complete Sports that the Brazilians got $250,000.

“I was amused when I read the $1.5million Dollar story on one of the internet sites and wondered how they arrived at that figure. Do you honestly believe a Nigerian company can pay Brazil or any country that much and hope to make a profit? At times, I wonder how people think,” said the official.

OSMI’s claim was corroborated by Kick-Off magazine, a Nigeria-based football Internet site who quoted an un-named Brazilian journalist as revealing that the Brazilians were paid 250,000 US Dollars.

“Brazil needed to play a friendly desperately on this date. They did not come to play this match against Nigeria for the money, but as preparation for the FIFA Confederations Cup,” the journalist was quoted as saying.

No Shame Losing To Brazil, Eagles Captain Okocha Declares

BOLTON Wanderers of England midfield star, Austin Okocha who gave a brilliant man-of-the-match display for Nigeria but couldn’t save the Super Eagles from a 3-0 defeat by World Champions, Brazil in Abuja sensationally declared that there was no shame in losing to the Samba Boys.

Okocha told Complete Sports after the match that the Eagles met a better team in terms of quality and technique.

The Eagles captain had one day to the game exclusively told Complete Sports’ Qasim Elegbede in his hotel room at NICON Noga Hilton that he would not shed any tears if Brazil defeated Nigeria.

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“The Brazilians have more quality players than we have. It will not surprise me if they win. In fact, many people will be surprised if we beat them,” Okocha said.

The mercurial midfielder who tormented the visitors back four on match day with a series of dangerous chips into the spaces behind and between the defenders but had no quality striker to cash in on his quality service, reiterated his stand that the Eagles played against a high-class side.

In fact, the World Champions’ ball possession, accurate passing and creativity impressed Okocha. “We can only learn from them because we had lots of players in our side that are not experienced,” he said.

Meanwhile, Coach Christian Chukwu also said that the Eagles can only learn from the bitter lessons handed down to them by the enterprising Brazilians. “I’ll be using these lessons, as bitter as they are, to build for the future which has always been our focus,” he said.

Brazil Coach: Our Quality Gave Us Victory

Coach of the all-conquering Brazilian team, Carlos Pereira said that his team defeated the Eagles because they had more quality players.

Pereira told a crowded press conference after the near one-sided game that the Eagles gave them good match and that the two teams played good football. “It was a very difficult game for us because Nigeria gave us a good match. We were able to win today (11 June, 2019) because we had more quality players than Nigeria,” said Pereira who advised that people should not look at the score-line as a true reflection of the match.

Meanwhile, “Chairman” Christian Chukwu who had his first real test as coach of the Super Eagles blamed his defenders marshaled by Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine’s Isaac Okoronkwo for the 3-0 whitewash they got from Brazil. The Eagles coach said the defenders were not alive to their responsibilities.

“The defenders were not always on the alert. They made a lot of mistakes which the Brazilians capitalized on to score.”

Chukwu also blasted his strikers for wasting the few chances that came their way.

11 June 2003 (Friendly – Abuja)

NIGERIA 0

BRAZIL 3 (Gil 34, Luis Fabiano 38, Adriano 83)

HT: 0-2; FT: 0-3.

Nigeria: Vincent Enyeama: Ifeanyi Udeze, Joseph Enakhire, Isaac Okoronkwo, Romanus Orjinta, John Utaka, Nwankwo Kanu /Chukwudi Nworgu, Aiyegbeni Yakubu/Chris Ogbodo, Austin Okocha, Garba Lawal, Ikpe Ekong/Seyi Olofinjana. Coach: Christian Chukwu.