“This is the best birthday of my life” – Nigeria football legend becomes a septuagenarian

The previous Nigeria worldwide and one of many nation’s greatest-ever soccer heroes turned 70 late final month

Born in 1952, Inexperienced Eagles nice Segun Odegbami attained the golden age of 70 on August 27.

Just lately, Engr. Lanre Adeleke, founding father of the Adeleke Sports activities Academy in Ile-Ogbo, put collectively a shock birthday celebration celebrating Odegbami.

Former Actual Sociedad midfielder Mutiu Adepoju, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdurosheed Akanbi, and 12 conventional rulers in Osun state graced the event.

Odegbami, a 1980 Africa Cup of Nations winner, couldn’t cover his delight on the celebration held in his honour, describing it as the most effective of his life.

“I didn’t need to rejoice my seventieth as a result of I don’t need individuals to see me as an outdated individual,” Odegbami stated, as per the Blueprint.

“That is the most effective birthday of my life. I didn’t ask for it. I’ll always remember the remainder of my life. The variety of conventional rulers sitting right here marvels me.

“Immediately is among the happiest days of my life as a result of that is completely sudden, completely unsolicited and the magnitude of the depth of affection that has been proven to me in the present day is unprecedented.”

What’s Segun Odegbami’s legacy?

Born in Lagos and introduced up in Jos, Plateau State, Odegbami got here to the limelight at IICC Taking pictures Stars, a crew he powered to 3 Nigeria Premier League titles and two FA Cup honours in eight years.

Predominantly a proper winger, Odegbami was typically deployed as a striker or supporting striker in his prime.

And his versatility was essential in serving to Taking pictures Stars to elevate the Africa Cup winners Cup in 1976 – the membership and the nation’s first African membership trophy.

Odegbami transferred his wonderful membership type to the nationwide crew, incomes his first call-up in 1976.

The thrilling ahead guided Nigeria to a second-place end on the 1978 All Africa Video games.

He additionally emerged as the highest scorer on the 1978 and 1980 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, with Nigeria profitable the latter on dwelling soil – a first-ever honour.

Odegbami was named to the Workforce of the Match, a testomony to his brilliance. With six targets, the retired attacker stays one in all Nigeria’s most prolific footballers on the AFCON.

By the point he performed his final match for Nigeria in 1981, Odegbami was the very best goalscorer in historical past, with an astonishing 23 targets in 46 video games.

The Lagos-born hero held on to the honour till a sure Rashidi Yekini got here to the fore with 37 targets.

Odegbami, nonetheless, stays second on the all-time record.