“Ribery switched wings because of him” – Hugo Lloris hails ex-Super Eagles defender

Samson Siasia’s 2005 World Youth Championship squad had good, proficient gamers. It’s maybe certainly one of Nigeria’s finest youth squads in historical past, going by the variety of proficient gamers it had.

Many gamers from that squad went on to signify the Tremendous Eagles whereas others had completely different profession phases.

From John Obi Mikel, who stands as probably the most illustrious member of that squad to Taye Taiwo, one other highly-rated member of the workforce, the 2005 workforce was one to notice.

Two members of that squad – Olubayo Adefemi and captain, Isaac Promise have since departed and are remembered for his or her nice skills, others, together with Dele Adeleye, Onyekachi Apam, Daniel Akpeyi and Sani Kaita went on to signify the Tremendous Eagles.

Of this group of gamers, Apam might be probably the most proficient and was extremely rated when he performed.

Whereas accidents have since compelled him to retire early, he confirmed sufficient within the French Ligue 1 to show heads and provides a long-lasting reminiscence of his skills as a defender.

Legendary France and Tottenham goalkeeper, Hugo Lloris remembers Apam for the large expertise he confirmed. He described him as top-of-the-line African gamers he has performed with.

“I performed with many African gamers and it’s troublesome to select one. I keep in mind the primary one who actually impressed me was … possibly you don’t know him, Onyekachi Apam,” he advised Supersport.

”He’s Nigerian and I performed with him in Good and he was simply spectacular. He was a central again and by that point he performed… the primary sport he performed was on the left aspect. He performed left again, we performed Marseille at house and at the moment Ribery performed on the proper, and on the finish of the sport, he needed to change his aspect as a result of he couldn’t beat him 1 v 1.

“And sadly, he had dangerous accidents and he couldn’t comply with the rhythm {of professional} soccer, sadly for him. He was actually proficient.”

Apam final performed for Seattle Sounders within the Main League Soccer however by no means appeared in any sport for them as a consequence of constant accidents.

He featured for the Tremendous Eagles within the 2008 African Cup of Nations and was additionally part of the silver profitable Beijing 2008 Olympics squad.