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Tottenham’s missed chance to sign Nigeria legend Segun Odegbami revealed
Nigeria legend Segun Odegbami has confirmed Tottenham Hotspur tried to sign him, but the proposed move collapsed after he failed to attend a trial at the club’s training ground.
Odegbami travelled to England after Kojo Alakija, then manager of the Nigeria national team, arranged an assessment intended to give the winger the opportunity to secure a transfer to the English club.
However, instead of reporting to Tottenham Hotspur, the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations winner spent his time in London at the Empire Ballroom.
Speaking on ThePlayzonepodcast, Odegbami recalled: “I went there for a trial, and I ended up in the Empire Ballroom dancing with ….. and I never went.”
The decision meant Odegbami missed the chance to join Tottenham Hotspur at a time when he was regarded as one of Africa’s leading players.
Had the transfer been completed, he could have become the first Nigerian-born winger to play for Tottenham Hotspur, ahead of John Chiedozie and Arnaut Danjuma.
Odegbami had travelled to England with the intention of impressing Tottenham Hotspur’s coaches, but never arrived at the club’s training ground for the proposed trial.
The former attacker also reflected on his status in African football and said he believed he was on course to win the continent’s top individual award in 1984.
“I was first to be listed in the top ten in Africa. I was the first to be the third-best player in Africa. I was the first to be the second-best in Africa.
“I should have won the African Best Player award in 1984 if we had won in Lagos the African Cup of Champions Clubs.
“In the semifinals, I got injured. I was on course to becoming Africa’s best player.”
Although the Tottenham Hotspur opportunity passed, Odegbami went on to build a distinguished career with Shooting Stars, where he spent 14 years and remained throughout his senior playing career.
During that time, he helped the club win the African Cup Winners’ Cup, the Nigerian FA Cup and the Nigerian top-flight title.
His long association with Shooting Stars made him one of the defining figures in the club’s history, despite the fact that a move to England had once appeared possible.
Odegbami’s account provides a remarkable explanation for why he never reached Tottenham Hotspur’s training ground after making the journey to England. The proposed transfer ultimately came to nothing, while his career continued to develop in Nigeria with Shooting Stars.
