Oliseh Ignores Kanu Nwankwo, Names the Player That Helped Nigeria Win 1996 Olympic Gold in Atlanta

Oliseh Ignores Kanu Nwankwo, Names the Player That Helped Nigeria Win 1996 Olympic Gold in Atlanta

Babajide Orevba
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:04 PM
  • Sunday Oliseh has showered praises on former Nigerian international Wilson Oruma following his exploits at Atlanta 1996
  • Even though Oruma did not score a goal for Nigeria at the tournament, Oliseh stated that Nigeria won’t have won the gold medal without the player
  • Oliseh also admitted that he is always prepared for training because Oruma was always on the opposing team

Former Super Eagles captain Sunday Oliseh has stated that the talent of Wilson Oruma helped the Dream Team to win the gold medal at the football event of the Atlanta 1996 Olympics.

Nigeria stunned the world coming from 3-1 down to beat Brazil 4-3 in the semifinal of the competition where Kanu Nwankwo equalised in the closing seconds, before another sensational strike in extra time to ensure the Africans qualify for the final courtesy of the golden goal rule.

The Dream Team then faced another South American powerhouse, Argentina, in the final of the tournament - a squad that paraded some of the best stars in world football at that time including Ariel Ortega and Hernan Crespo.

Atlanta 1996, Sunday Oliseh, Kanu Nwankwo, Wilson Oruma
Sunday Oliseh says Wilson Oruma was responsible for Nigeria's success at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. Photo: Ruediger Fessel
Source: Getty Images

Nigeria came from behind twice in the encounter and then Emmanuel Amuneke scored the winning goal beating the offside trap to win it 3-2.

Kanu Nwankwo was with the ball when the referee signalled the final whistle; behold Nigeria are Olympic champions, but Oliseh credited the glorious moment to Oruma’s brilliance.

In a review of his book Audacity to Refuse during a special podcast by YouTube channel ATHLST, which was anchored by Matthew Edafe, former national team captain Oliseh said:

“Wilson Oruma... if he was not in that team, we wouldn’t win the Olympics gold.
“When you’re talking of MVP of Olympics, it was Wilson Oruma. Listen carefully, Wilson Oruma in the training was always playing on the opposing team against me most of the time.
"I knew in training I had to play a hundred percent because he was extra talented.
“It was his coming in the semifinal (against Brazil) that gave us victory. It was his coming in in the final that gave us victory.”

Oliseh claims in aerial ball than Yekini

Sports Brief earlier reported that Super Eagles legend Sunday Oliseh has claimed that Napoli striker Victor Osimhen is better when it comes to the aerial ball than late Rashidi Yekini in the Super Eagles.

Rashidi Yekini was one of the best strikers in the world during his active playing time and he also remains Nigeria's all-time highest goalscorer in history with 37 goals.

While speaking with Emmanuel Babayaro and Mathew Edafe on YouTube posted by ATHLST, Sunday Oliseh compared Victor Osimhen with Rashidi Yekini.

Authors
Babajide Orevba photo
Babajide Orevba
Babajide Orevba is a CAF accredited Nigerian journalist and HOD of the Local Desk with over 10 years of experience in media landscape.He studied NCE Political Science/Social Studies, AOCOED.
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