By Emeka Obasi
There is something about Benghazi that does not add up. The Super Eagles were humiliated in that town some forty two years ago even with the very experienced Peter Fregene in goal.
It was at the Libya 1982 African Nations Cup and Nigeria arrived as defending champions. They were in Group B with Algeria, Zambia and Ethiopia. Coach Otto Gloria was in charge when the Eagles lifted the trophy two years earlier in Lagos.
All Group B matches were decided at the March 28 Stadium, Benghazi. Nigeria had beaten Ethiopia 3-0 in the first game only to fall 2-1 to Algeria in the next. Before the last group matches, the Eagles needed just a draw against Zambia to qualify for the semifinals.
Peter Fregene, the first Nigerian to keep at the Olympics, was in goal. One strange development was that one of the three Zambian keepers registered for the championships bore the name Ghost. His surname was Mulenga. Another keeper, Emmanuel Mwape played for a club known as Nkana Red Devils.
The date was March 13, 1982. Fregene was bedevilled by Kenneth Kaunda’s Boys. Maybe, the former Stationery Stores safe hands was seeing ghosts. In 25 minutes, Peter Kaumba put Zambia ahead. Nigeria struggled. Aaron Njovu increased the tally ten minutes to time.
A minute after the Zambian second goal, Fregene deliberately kicked the ball into his own net to give the opponents a convincing 3-0 victory. Even Mauritian referee, Edwin Picon – Ackong, was shocked that a goalkeeper would would score himself.
Okey Isima, one of the heroes of the 1980 African Nations Cup, found himself facing the Desert Foxes of Algeria, for the fourth time in two consecutive years. In Benghazi, Isima scored for Nigeria and erroneously put the ball in Green Eagles net. It was the first time the Nigerians would concede an own goal in the Championships. Algeria won 2-1.
Fregene had been bedridden for long but died just before the Super Eagles flew to Libya to face the Mediterranean Knights, in Benghazi. While his body lay cold in the morgue, the Nigerian team was abandoned in the cold, at Al – Abraq Airport. The match did not hold because the North Africans put their guests’ lives in danger.
Libya ’82 was the first and last time players like Richard Owubokiri, Tony Orji, Charles Yantchio, Emma Osigwe and Adegoke Adelabu played at the African Nations Cup. Even with great outings in Portugal and Brazil much later, Owubokiri was unable to move Clemens Westerhof.
While the Eagles left Benghazi with nothing, Nigerian sounding names appeared in the grand finale playing for hosts Libya and eventual champions, Ghana. Ben Kayede and John Essien wore Black Stars shirts. Saleh Sola did same as a Mediterranean Knight.
The Black Stars had won the trophy three times previously, both at home and away before their fourth in Libya. And ever since, they have been unable to win again. Two lost grand finale, in 2010 and in 2015, that is the story of Ghana.
Victory over Libya in 1982 was painful. Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, spent so much to bring Africa to his country. The Ghanaians did not prepare adequately. President Hilda Liman forced them to withdraw but when Jerry Rawlings toppled him, the Black Stars’ hope was restored.
One account says Gaddafi offered Ghana some cash support. Both teams were in Group A, Tripoli. Their first encounter ended 2-2 and they qualified ahead of Cameroon and Tunisia.
In the grand finale, another draw, 1-1, came. In the corollary penalty shoot – out, the Black Stars won 7-6. George Alhassan scored the first goal for Ghana in both games. One Black Star, Sampson Lamptey, was nicknamed Gaddafi.
Libya paid Ghana back in 2014 during the African Nations Championships in Cape Town. The hosting right belonged to the North Africans until security fears forced CAF to move it to South Africa.
Like in 1982, the Black Stars and Mediterranean Knights were in the same group and played out a draw before romping into the grand finale which ended in another draw(0-0). Penalties decided, Libya smiled last, 4-3.
Victor Ikpeba was part of the contingent to Benghazi in 2024. He had played and lived in Libya in 2022, signed by Al Ittihad. The Prince of Monaco, had a very sour experience. The promised bumper wages were not as forthcoming as expected.
Libya should be grateful to Nigeria. Their first gold medal at the African Senior Athletics Championships came because a Nigerian, Tony Osheku, was in charge.
The former spouse of Olympic 400 metres silver medalist, Falilat Ogunkoya, trained Mohammed Khouaja, in Abuja to win the men’s 400 metres race in Nairobi, at the 17th edition, in 2010.
Osheku, Chief Coach of the Libyan athletics team, brought the trio of Mohammed Ibrahim, Khaled Jedah and Khouaja to Nigeria for training before departure to Kenya, to make History.
