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The Dream Team's victory over Brazil is still one of the most famous wins in Nigerian football history
The summer of 1996 in Athens, Georgia, provided the backdrop for one of football's most iconic moments in Nigerian football folklore.
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Nigeria’s Dream Team shocked Brazil in the semifinals of the Atlanta Olympic Games, but the role that the leadership of Daniel Amokachi played in securing that victory has been understated for years.
Amokachi’s defiance inspires Dream Team's victory
Speaking on the It was What is Was podcast, football historian Jonathan Wilson recalled an incident involving Nigeria’s Dream Team at the 1996 Olympic Games just ahead of their semifinal clash against Brazil.
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Wilson revealed, “As they [Nigerian team] get towards the Sanford stadium in Athens Georgia, 70,000 plus crowd, and the officials say ‘Can you wait, we want to let Brazil in first’.
“But Amokachi, you get the sense is the real sort of backroom leader goes, ‘No, we’re here first, we’re going in first. Why do they get to go in first?’”
Accoring to Wilson, Nigerian goalkeeper Joseph Dosu also alluded to Amokachi’s role as leader, saying, “Daniel was not the captain, but he was a real leader. He told us we were going nowhere and warned the driver that if he moved aside, he would never drive that bus again.”
Amokachi himself was quoted by Wilson as saying, “We knew we could beat them then, but to be treated like that made us feel insulted, and we were determined to prove them wrong on the field.”
Nigeria’s memorable victory over Brazil
Nigeria eventually got their wish and entered the stadium first before shocking the Brazilians in the now-famous semifinal victory.
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Brazil, boasting stars like Ronaldo, Bebeto, and Rivaldo, entered as overwhelming favourites and had a commanding 3-1 lead by halftime with goals from Flavio Conceicao and Bebeto.
Yet Nigeria refused to throw in the towel. Victor Ikpeba’s goal in the 78th minute reduced the deficit, before Nwankwo Kanu’s magical equaliser in the dying moments of regular time sent the game into extra time, turning the tide in Nigeria’s favour.
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Under the golden goal rule, Kanu struck again just four minutes into extra time, spinning past his marker and burying the ball into the net to advance Nigeria to the final.
The Dream Team went on to claim gold after a final win over Argentina, becoming legends of Nigerian football in the process.
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