Jonathan Akpoborie, wey be former Nigerian striker, don yarn about one unexpected call-up to the Super Eagles during one match against Togo. Inside one interview wey hin do with Elegbete TV Sports, Akpoborie tell the story of how he find himself for pitch after hin don watch the match for stands, after correct pounded yam chop for Honourable Nduka Irabor house.
Hin talk say, “I dey Nduka house, wey we chop pounded yam. Na hin e convince me say make we go watch the game. I talk say Area Boys no go let me rest but hin talk say make we just go stadium.”
As halftime reach, when Nigeria dey lose 1-0, na so person waka come meet Akpoborie with better surprise message.
“Somebody waka come meet me for second half and talk say Bonfrere Jo, the coach at that time, dey ask make I come,” Akpoborie reminisce. “I look Nduka ask, ‘How Bonfrere know say I dey here?'”
Na so news reach Bonfrere Jo say Akpoborie dey dia, wey Nigerian football fans and officials dey pressure am make e include the striker for the squad.
“Dem talk say make I come dressing room. International match!” Akpoborie still dey remember.
Even though hin just finish hin pounded yam chop, dem summon am enter dressing room, where hin boot and jersey dey wait am.
“I just chop pounded yam o, but dem talk say, I gats play,” Akpoborie yarn, adding say when Nigeria call, “you no fit talk say no.”
Last last, hin wear hin boot, enter the field play the match.
“After that game, I follow that team go America,” Akpoborie still dey proud of am.
He also dismiss the rumor wey dey fly say na tribalism or cabal stop hin inclusion for Nigeria’s 1996 Olympic football squad. He clear the air say Kanu Nwankwo, wey be one important squad member, arrive late because of heart surgery but hin always dey part of the team.
Na so Akpoborie explain say even though Bonfrere Jo want make hin dey for the Olympic squad, na Nigeria’s overage player limit make hin dey alternative.
“Bonfrere don choose the three overaged players wey hin want — Uche Okechukwu, Emmanuel Amunike, and Daniel Amokachi. If to say na only one injure, na me for replace am,” he break the matter down.
