SportsMark

  This was another   defender who was part of the squad for the 1996 Olympic games but never made an appearance. Spent the majority of his domestic career between the Nigerian league and the Middle East. He currently coaches Ingas F.C after a brief stint with Benin Republic side, USS Krake.

  One of the best left back the national team has seen, the younger babyaro was also part of the team that won the under 17 world cup in 1993. Retiring in 2010, he was famous for his acrobatic goal celebrations in Chelsea and even featured for Newcastle after been deemed surplus to requirenments by Jose Mourinho. He retired in 2010 after a bried spell in MLS.

  One of the success stories of the team was this man, he was a rock in defense for the national team that won gold in 1996, he went on to feature for Fenerbache in Italy winning the league title twice. Amongst other clubs, he also represented Istanbulspor and Bayelsa united with whom he retired in 2008. He even obtained Turkish citizenship under the name Deniz Uygar.

  Remember that guy with those colorful hairstyles in the national team, Yes, that was Taribo West, he also played every single minute of that successful campaign and went on to enjoy a successful albeit controversial career that brought amongst others the UEFA Cup, he also played alongside Ronaldo in that winning campaign with Internazionale. Currently a Pastor, He established his own church called "Shelter in the Storm Miracle Ministries of All Nations" in Lagos.

We will be doing a review of Nigeria’s men football team that won Olympic gold medal at Atlanta in 1996, not much is known if these players after the success they enjoyed at the showpiece event, and one by one, we will be doing a review of how their career path followed and where they are now, a daunting task perhaps but one with fulfilling benefits.  

    Being in the elite group of one of the first Africans to win the champions league should be considered a success story for this man from Calabar but was he, really? After forming part of the Ajax's dominant side that won the champions league at the expense of Ac Milan in the 1994/1995 season, he left having being left frustrated by the somewhat mechanical system of then dutch manager, Luis Van Gaal. the rest as they always say is history, the move culminated in a downward trend for the tall Wideman known for his pace and dribbling skills. He retired after having suffered relegation with two different clubs but one sticking point in this story is that, was his move a case of moving too early? and what if his deal with Real Madrid had not fallen through?. Haven't gotten our application, get it here