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By Bassey Ibiatisuho

Ex-Nigerian internationals Moses Effiong and former captain of the Green Eagles, Christian ‘Chairman’ Chukwu have relived their national team experiences, saying passion drove the team to success at the 1980 African Cup of Nations.

Nigeria defeated Algeria 3-0 at the National Stadium in Surulere Lagos to win her first  cup of nations on March 22, 1980.

Speaking on “Football Fans Show” on Planet Radio in Uyo, the former Rangers International of Enugu player who was celebrated alongside his teammates on the first private radio station in the Akwa-Cross region on their achievement 40 years ago said the feeling remained the same 40 years after and dedicated the victory to his teammates whom he said exhibited the highest level of commitment, discipline and patriotism.

Noting that the players in the 1980 squad played in the Nigerian league, Chukwu dismissed claim that the NPFL lacks quality players and supported the Nigeria Football Federation – NFF’s decision to have the Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr reside in the country in order to follow the league and identify players, “We have abundant players but no one to identify them, Westerhof lived in Nigeria and had a good number of local league players in his team.”

On his part, the goalkeeper of the victorious 1980 team, Coach Moses Effiong who also joined the Planet Radio Football Fans Show said the maturity among the players made them different from what is obtainable today, “then, players played to make name for themselves and make the country proud, but its different today as money is the motivation for the players.”

Effiong who was one of the youngest players in the squad poured encomiums on all his teammates but mentioned late Best Ogedegbe as his favourite teammate.