Until Nigeria win the FIFA World Cup, the country’s biggest football success remains its triumph at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics football tournament without a doubt.
One of the reasons why it remains a reference point to date is due to the two teams: Brazil and Argentina, Nigeria defeated en route to winning the gold medal on August 3, 1996, at the Sanford Stadium, Athens.
Brazil came into the tournament with some of its players that won the World Cup two years ago in the same country. So, they came into the tournament as favorites given that some of the players already understand the terrain.
Argentina rounded off their quarter-final and semi-final matches without conceding a goal with a 4-0 bashing of Spain and a 2-0 victory over Portugal respectively.
While fans back home in Nigeria followed the team on their television screens, one of the country’s finest journalists covered all the behind-the-scenes intrigues right from the player’s camp in Nigeria and the United States.
The memory of Nigeria’s greatest football achievement, which happened 27 years ago, remains vivid.
Mumini Alao, an erudite scholar and journalist, skillfully retold the story of Nigeria’s Dream Team triumph in a concise book. Although the book initially made a quiet entrance to the market, it was officially presented to the public on a significant day in Nigeria’s political history – June 12, last year.
The book’s title is “The Making of Nigeria’s Dream Team: Football Gold Medal Winners At Atlanta ’96 Olympic Games.”
The book was introduced to the public at the fourth edition of the Ballers Award – an event organised by Gbenga Salu.
The book unearths an in-depth story of the remarkable journey of Nigeria’s U-23 team, who achieved an astonishing victory at the Atlanta ’96 Olympics.
Authored by Dr Alao who is known for his previous work “SoccerTalk…Selected Articles on Contemporary Issues in Nigerian Football” from 2009, the book delves into the team’s tactical set-up, preparation, and ultimate triumph on the global stage.
The Nigeria U-23 team or “The Dream Team” as they were later called, made history by becoming the first non-European team to claim the Olympic Games football gold medal in 68 years.
Before their feat in 1996, the last time a non-European team achieved this was in 1928 when Uruguay emerged victorious.
Notably, Nigeria’s victory marked the end of Europe’s football dominance in the Olympics, as no European country has clinched the gold medal in football for the past 26 years.
There are many reasons why you will enjoy reading this book. The book is written in simple sentences and filled with humour.
I read the book in just a day even though I am a lazy reader. I trust that you will break that record easily because the book is such a great read without a doubt.
Happy reading!
You can purchase the book here:
Roving Heights Book Shops:
The Making of Nigeria’s Dream Team
Amazon:
