Ghanian football legend and 3-time African Player of the Year, Abedi Pele says the Super Eagles of Nigeria thought they were untouchable in the semi-finals of the 1992 AFCON hence their defeat was a memorable one for his country.
Going down memory lane, the former Black Stars Captain recalled that Ghana came from a goal down to beat the Eagles 2-1 and qualify for the final where they eventually lost on penalties to Cote d’Ivoire.
The Eagles won their 2 group games against host Senegal 2-1 and Kenya 2-1. In the quarter-finals against Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) late Rashidi Yekini’s first half goal secured a last four berth for the Eagles.
In the semi -finals encounter, Mutiu Adepoju opened scoring for the Eagles before Pele and Prince -Polley got on the score sheet to send Ghana into the final. The Eagles went on to beat Cameroon 2-1 in the bronze medal match thanks to goals from Friday Ekpo and Yekini.
Abedi Pele enthused that Nigeria thought because they had the men with quality talents and great pedigree they were good for the title but they got the surprise of their lives.
Speaking on the yellow card he received against Nigeria which ruled him out of the final, Pele said the ball was a throw-in, and the referee gave a free kick so he simply told him it was a throw-in and he got upset and showed me a yellow card.
Although he regretted his action, Pele said he apologised to his countrymen afterwards. He insisted that the implication was weighing on him. In that tournament, he noted that Ghana were favorites to win the championship and the fans were hurt that he didn’t play in the final and had to apologise for the pains he caused them. He said being human, one occasionally gets carried away and do certain things wrong which may eventually blow in his face.
Pele revealed that he told himself after the Yellow Card that even if he was not going to play in the finals, he must take the team to the finals. He was determined. and that brought the goals and the victory.
On his equaliser against Nigeria, the 1993 UEFA Champions League winner with Olympique Marseille said he asked his team mate the corner kick taker to give him the ball because he believed the Nigerian opponent marking him would not pose a serious threat since he was one step ahead of him and that was the only direction he could go and fortunately the goalkeeper slipped and he scored the needed goal.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
