By Kate Obodo
While many believe Nigeria @  50 is not worth celebrating, following the nation’s inability to raise the standard of living in the country, former Super Eagles defender Taribo West has rated the country’s football as average.

Taribo

According to the bulwark, despite its ups and downs and  going  by successes recorded in the past such as lifting the Nation’s Cup and  other International tournaments, ‘Nigeria at 50’ is worth celebrating.

“Though one may not say that the game of football has been perfectly run over the years, but going by the successes it has brought to the country, I think it is something we should celebrate.

“With  the trophies and other awards that football has brought to our great nation, I will say it has been a great 50 years. We are 50 years today alongside 50 years of challenges and victories, it is not a child’s play.

Going down memory lane for  instance, in 1980 we won the Africa Nation’s Cup which was hosted in Nigeria. In I985 the  Eaglets lifted the FIFA/JVC U-16 now FIFA U-17  World Cup in China . In 1984 we emerged  finalist in the Nation’s  Cup.

Talking about our success, in 2007 the  Eaglets made us proud when they won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in South Korea . I remember  in Japan 1993, where Eaglets led by Wilson Oruma lifted the U-17 World Cup. The Flying Eagles are not left out  in these successes, they emerged finalist in 1989 and 2005.

“Tunisia  1994,  was  another celebration for the country going by the Super Eagles victory at the Nation’s Cup   under coach Clemens Westerof. Atlanta 1996 was also a success story.  Nwankwo Kanu led the Olympic Eagles to a gold medal outing in soccer.

“No doubt, Nigeria has been confronted with so much challenges  but in a nutshell, it has been wonderful especially in football,” he said.