Renowned Nigerian football icon, Chief Segun Odegbami, has dismantled the long-standing myth surrounding a purported match between India and Nigeria, which allegedly ended with a staggering scoreline of 99-1.
Odegbami, a former international footballer, dismissed the tale as nothing more than a fanciful fabrication, devoid of any truth or credibility.
The widely circulated myth posited that the Indian national football team triumphed over their Nigerian counterparts with an astonishing scoreline, purportedly aided by mystical voodoo practices. This supposed victory led to FIFA imposing a ban on India from participating in competitive matches.
Among Nigerian football enthusiasts, especially among the youth, various versions of the myth have been passed down through generations, often embellished with fantastical elements. Some iterations claim that the football would magically transform into a stone or even a lion whenever Nigerian players attempted to kick it.
Accounts of the myth differ, with some attributing Nigeria’s solitary goal to the bravery of players like Muda Lawal, who allegedly defied the mystical odds to score, while others credit Teslim Balogun, fondly known as Thunder Balogun, with the historic goal.
According to the narrative, the Nigerian player who scored the goal tragically perished on the field, immortalizing them as a national hero.
Addressing the myth with a chuckle, Odegbami, in a recent interview with Vanguard, dismissed it outright, labeling it as mere superstition. He revealed that although he too had heard the myth in his youth, his research had conclusively debunked its authenticity.
“It is not true. Just leave it. There is no such thing. We (my colleagues and I) too heard it. I have researched it and it was not true,” Odegbami asserted emphatically.
In shedding light on this enduring myth, Odegbami underscores the importance of separating fact from fiction in the rich tapestry of football folklore.
