Virtually everybody born before the invention of the internet must have heard the tale of a nonexistent football match between Nigeria and India that obviously took place in a parallel universe and somehow we got to hear the gory stories of that match.

Though there are many variations of the story, every prevaricator seems to agree on a couple of facts about this fictional football match. Each storyteller agrees that;

1. This match ended with India scoring 99 goals and Nigeria scoring just one goal.

2. Nigerians where unable to kick the ball because the football kept turning to a lion (or something scary) to prevent them from playing the soccer ball.

3. The Indians later agreed that if Nigeria could score a goal, they would concede defeat

4. Samuel Okwaraji scored the winning goal and lost his life in the process.

5. FIFA banned India from soccer because they used black magic in that very game

With the help of common sense (not that it was absent back then), quick access to information and the internet, every right thinking Nigerian has come to realise that such a story should be filled under “Blatant Lies”.

Why Did This Story Thrive For So Long?

Most people like to pass off this story as true with the fact that no one has ever seen India in an International Football Match. Since no one actually saw India participate in most international soccer games, this gave a little credence to the story.

Another reason this lie could thrive for long was the fact that credible information was not readily available at our finger tips. It not like every Emeka, Audu and Ojo could visit Google in a matter of minutes and tell our ominous fabricators that they should stop spreading toxic lies.

And to be honest we have a tingling feeling that this lie was concocted by an elder of a community because, let’s be honest who questions the words of the elders in Nigeria. Remember, what an adult sees sitting down a child will never see even if he consults Google, Siri or Cortana.

The Element of Truth In This Story

On the 12th of August 1989, Nigeria lost Sam Okwaraji.

Sam Okwaraji was the player rumored to have lost his life in that game when in truth he died during a FIFA World Cup qualifying game against Angola in the 77th minute.

He collapsed and died of cognitive heart failure. May his soul rest in Perfect Peace. AMEN

So that is the only truthful thing about that story, the fact that a Nigerian player died during a football match. That’s it. The match was not against India, we did not lose the match and as you must have guessed, and there were no lions either.

Nairlanders, what do you think?

Wow!!! True talk

Nice research too!!!

Lol... One funny story that lasts enough to b true..... Okparaji... Ball con turn lion.. Lol

This story predates Okwaraji era. The tale has it that the match was between Green Eagles of Odegbami, Chukwu, Okpala era. Okpala, as the goalkeeper, was always seeing seven balls whenever an India player shot at goal hence the high score.
Another fairy tale involves India absence from athletics at the Olympics. It was said that their feet never touch the ground while doing the track events. Also, another tale claims the javeline thrown by the Indian athlete in one of the Olympics in the 70's is yet to be found

i have always wondered why India has never participated in any football tournament though

.

"If you wanna hide anything from a Black man, put it in a book"

@OP, Why was India banned from the game?
Just becos it aint real doesn't mean it didn't happen.

Indians do participate in sports just that the sports is nt a major sport in Nigeria and Olympics which is Cricket @Nexxy007

pamcode:
Indians do participate in sports just that the sports is nt a major sport in Nigeria and Olympics which is Cricket @Nexxy007

i meant football specifically

omo see all of 'em shorts...@pictures. As in they played the match in those?
Looks more like...


#modified

Nexxy007:
i meant football specifically

modified: seems its as a result of neglect on the part of the Indian govt to develop football in the country

Nothing una talk fit convince me. That match happen live! Even my grandpapa confirm am.

My name is Wisdom...not just by name. I heard it when i was in primary skul & i knew it was all lies!!!

Many have heard about this match. Some
think it’s an urban legend. Some think it’s
only a joke. But only few know the truth.
A long time ago, few months after the end
of the Nigeria-Biafra war, the Military
Governor of Lagos decided to stage an
exhibition match at the then glorious
National Stadium Lagos. He thought it
would be a special way of celebrating
Nigeria’s victory in the war, a way of
helping Lagosians to forget the sad bloody
years that had just passed. He wanted to
stage the match between Nigeria & Ghana
but was advised against it. His advisers
reminded him how Ghana trashed Nigeria
3-Nil at the 1960 Independence Match,
that another loss to Ghana might defeat
the purpose of the exhibition match. His
advisers suggested that they choose a
team that would be very easy to beat.
Brig Gen Mobolaji Johnson agreed.
Ethiopia was considered. Zimbabwe was
considered. India was considered. USA was
considered. And India was chosen. He &
his advisers believed that India would be a
walkover. But had he known what would
happen he might have chosen Brazil. Yes,
Brazil were the reigning world champions
at the time but… Oh, had he known.
India agreed to play the exhibition match
with Nigeria. In fact, they were overjoyed.
Nigeria was one of the best teams in
Africa. And they had never played with an
African team before. What more! They were
most overjoyed that Nigeria had agreed to
their three special conditions. What were
these conditions?
Well, on that fateful day, a bright Saturday
afternoon on August 15th, 1970, the
National Stadium Lagos was filled with
excited spectators. That was Condition No.
1, that the match be played on India’s
Independence Day. As the players of
Nigeria & India came into the pitch,
spectators screamed with more excitement
as they saw that all the twenty-two
players were barefooted. That was
Condition No. 2. (Remember that India
had withdrawn from the 1950 World Cup
because they weren’t allowed to play
barefooted.)
Priiii… Referee Mohamed Touati blew his
whistle to begin the game. (The Tunisian
referee had been suspended by FIFA earlier
that year but had accepted to officiate this
special match.) Indian forward Amer Al-
Amer made the first pass. And before
anyone could say “Bosnia-Herzegovina”,
one Majed Suleman fired the ball high into
the air towards the Nigerian post. The
gaint of a Nigerian keeper, Emmanuel
Okala, dived to the right while the ball
dropped into the left side of the net.
Gooooaaal!!! 3-0. That was Condition No.
3, that each goal scored by India would be
counted as 3points while each by Nigeria
would be 1 as usual. (Nigeria agreed
because they believed that India could
never score. Or at least couldn’t score
more than one goal.) Emmanuel was
looking confused. He was very sure he had
dived towards the ball. Every other person
thought he’d deliberately let the Indians
score just to spice up the game.
Meanwhile, India’s fan club was going wild
with jubilation.
Priii… The Nigerian forwards Sunday
Atuma & Thompson Usiyen passed. As
Thompson passed to Paul Hamilton, he
was surprised when he saw India’s Faisal
Al-Dakheel with the ball. Faisal quickly
shot the ball into the air towards Nigeria’s
post. Goooal! 6-0. Thompson was so
confused. He could have sworn it was Paul
his teammate he had passed to.
Priii… Sunday Atuma passed into the
Nigerian half. Alloysius Atuegbu passed to
Haruna Ilerika. Haruna made a long pass
into the Indian half to Samuel Okoye. He
was shocked when he saw the ball in the
legs of Abdullah Al-Shemmari. Haruna
wiped his eyes in disbelief. Too late!
Abdullah shot the ball into the air. Goal!
9-0. Three goals in barely six minutes?
Nigerian spectators were wondering what
was happening.
Priii… Goal! 12-0. Yusuf Al-Suwayed.
15-0. Amer Al-Amer. 18-0. Majed
Suleman’s second goal. 21-0. Abdulaziz
Al-Buloushi. 24-0. Majed’s hat-trick.
27-0. Faisal Al-Dakheel’s second goal.
30-0. Waleed Al-Mubarak. At the twentieth
minute, Nigeria’s Paul Hamilton ran with
the ball all the way to India’s box-18. But
as he raised his leg to shoot, he slipped &
fell. India’s defender Mahboub Jumaa
easily took the ball as Paul lay on the
ground moaning like a baby. That was the
nearest Nigeria had gotten to the Indian
post so far.
Twenty-five minutes later & eight goals
more, the score stood at 54-0. Some
spectators angrily left the stadium even
before the half-time whistle. Others waited
patiently, hoping that Nigeria would
revenge in the 2nd half.
“Boys, what the hell is happening out
there?!” Coach Jorge Penna was furious.
“You’re the damn captain, answer me!!” he
was shouting at Emmanuel Okala.
Emmanuel was speechless. He didn’t know
what to say.
“Co-co-coach…” Godwin Achebe began “I
think I know what’s happening sir”
The coach was glaring at him now.
“Those Indians dey use juju. They’re using
ma-magic.”
“Yes! Yes!” his teammates echoed &
nodded & murmured amongst themselves.
“Shut up you fools!! Magic my foot!!! There
is no magic in football!”

Nigerians and there way of spreading lies

i heard that story in primary school.. the reason why i believed india still does not play international football is because of this. but we now better now - it was aliens from Mars that played that match.

Ruffychuks:
Many have heard about this match. Some
think it’s an urban legend. Some think it’s
only a joke. But only few know the truth.
A long time ago, few months after the end
of the Nigeria-Biafra war, the Military
Governor of Lagos decided to stage an
exhibition match at the then glorious
National Stadium Lagos. He thought it
would be a special way of celebrating
Nigeria’s victory in the war, a way of
helping Lagosians to forget the sad bloody
years that had just passed. He wanted to
stage the match between Nigeria & Ghana
but was advised against it. His advisers
reminded him how Ghana trashed Nigeria
3-Nil at the 1960 Independence Match,
that another loss to Ghana might defeat
the purpose of the exhibition match. His
advisers suggested that they choose a
team that would be very easy to beat.
Brig Gen Mobolaji Johnson agreed.
Ethiopia was considered. Zimbabwe was
considered. India was considered. USA was
considered. And India was chosen. He &
his advisers believed that India would be a
walkover. But had he known what would
happen he might have chosen Brazil. Yes,
Brazil were the reigning world champions
at the time but… Oh, had he known.
India agreed to play the exhibition match
with Nigeria. In fact, they were overjoyed.
Nigeria was one of the best teams in
Africa. And they had never played with an
African team before. What more! They were
most overjoyed that Nigeria had agreed to
their three special conditions. What were
these conditions?
Well, on that fateful day, a bright Saturday
afternoon on August 15th, 1970, the
National Stadium Lagos was filled with
excited spectators. That was Condition No.
1, that the match be played on India’s
Independence Day. As the players of
Nigeria & India came into the pitch,
spectators screamed with more excitement
as they saw that all the twenty-two
players were barefooted. That was
Condition No. 2. (Remember that India
had withdrawn from the 1950 World Cup
because they weren’t allowed to play
barefooted.)
Priiii… Referee Mohamed Touati blew his
whistle to begin the game. (The Tunisian
referee had been suspended by FIFA earlier
that year but had accepted to officiate this
special match.) Indian forward Amer Al-
Amer made the first pass. And before
anyone could say “Bosnia-Herzegovina”,
one Majed Suleman fired the ball high into
the air towards the Nigerian post. The
gaint of a Nigerian keeper, Emmanuel
Okala, dived to the right while the ball
dropped into the left side of the net.
Gooooaaal!!! 3-0. That was Condition No.
3, that each goal scored by India would be
counted as 3points while each by Nigeria
would be 1 as usual. (Nigeria agreed
because they believed that India could
never score. Or at least couldn’t score
more than one goal.) Emmanuel was
looking confused. He was very sure he had
dived towards the ball. Every other person
thought he’d deliberately let the Indians
score just to spice up the game.
Meanwhile, India’s fan club was going wild
with jubilation.
Priii… The Nigerian forwards Sunday
Atuma & Thompson Usiyen passed. As
Thompson passed to Paul Hamilton, he
was surprised when he saw India’s Faisal
Al-Dakheel with the ball. Faisal quickly
shot the ball into the air towards Nigeria’s
post. Goooal! 6-0. Thompson was so
confused. He could have sworn it was Paul
his teammate he had passed to.
Priii… Sunday Atuma passed into the
Nigerian half. Alloysius Atuegbu passed to
Haruna Ilerika. Haruna made a long pass
into the Indian half to Samuel Okoye. He
was shocked when he saw the ball in the
legs of Abdullah Al-Shemmari. Haruna
wiped his eyes in disbelief. Too late!
Abdullah shot the ball into the air. Goal!
9-0. Three goals in barely six minutes?
Nigerian spectators were wondering what
was happening.
Priii… Goal! 12-0. Yusuf Al-Suwayed.
15-0. Amer Al-Amer. 18-0. Majed
Suleman’s second goal. 21-0. Abdulaziz
Al-Buloushi. 24-0. Majed’s hat-trick.
27-0. Faisal Al-Dakheel’s second goal.
30-0. Waleed Al-Mubarak. At the twentieth
minute, Nigeria’s Paul Hamilton ran with
the ball all the way to India’s box-18. But
as he raised his leg to shoot, he slipped &
fell. India’s defender Mahboub Jumaa
easily took the ball as Paul lay on the
ground moaning like a baby. That was the
nearest Nigeria had gotten to the Indian
post so far.
Twenty-five minutes later & eight goals
more, the score stood at 54-0. Some
spectators angrily left the stadium even
before the half-time whistle. Others waited
patiently, hoping that Nigeria would
revenge in the 2nd half.
“Boys, what the hell is happening out
there?!” Coach Jorge Penna was furious.
“You’re the damn captain, answer me!!” he
was shouting at Emmanuel Okala.
Emmanuel was speechless. He didn’t know
what to say.
“Co-co-coach…” Godwin Achebe began “I
think I know what’s happening sir”
The coach was glaring at him now.
“Those Indians dey use juju. They’re using
ma-magic.”
“Yes! Yes!” his teammates echoed &
nodded & murmured amongst themselves.
“Shut up you fools!! Magic my foot!!! There
is no magic in football!”

How do we verify this?

Ruffychuks:
Many have heard about this match. Some
think it’s an urban legend. Some think it’s
only a joke. But only few know the truth.
A long time ago, few months after the end
of the Nigeria-Biafra war, the Military
Governor of Lagos decided to stage an
exhibition match at the then glorious
National Stadium Lagos. He thought it
would be a special way of celebrating
Nigeria’s victory in the war, a way of
helping Lagosians to forget the sad bloody
years that had just passed. He wanted to
stage the match between Nigeria & Ghana
but was advised against it. His advisers
reminded him how Ghana trashed Nigeria
3-Nil at the 1960 Independence Match,
that another loss to Ghana might defeat
the purpose of the exhibition match. His
advisers suggested that they choose a
team that would be very easy to beat.
Brig Gen Mobolaji Johnson agreed.
Ethiopia was considered. Zimbabwe was
considered. India was considered. USA was
considered. And India was chosen. He &
his advisers believed that India would be a
walkover. But had he known what would
happen he might have chosen Brazil. Yes,
Brazil were the reigning world champions
at the time but… Oh, had he known.
India agreed to play the exhibition match
with Nigeria. In fact, they were overjoyed.
Nigeria was one of the best teams in
Africa. And they had never played with an
African team before. What more! They were
most overjoyed that Nigeria had agreed to
their three special conditions. What were
these conditions?
Well, on that fateful day, a bright Saturday
afternoon on August 15th, 1970, the
National Stadium Lagos was filled with
excited spectators. That was Condition No.
1, that the match be played on India’s
Independence Day. As the players of
Nigeria & India came into the pitch,
spectators screamed with more excitement
as they saw that all the twenty-two
players were barefooted. That was
Condition No. 2. (Remember that India
had withdrawn from the 1950 World Cup
because they weren’t allowed to play
barefooted.)
Priiii… Referee Mohamed Touati blew his
whistle to begin the game. (The Tunisian
referee had been suspended by FIFA earlier
that year but had accepted to officiate this
special match.) Indian forward Amer Al-
Amer made the first pass. And before
anyone could say “Bosnia-Herzegovina”,
one Majed Suleman fired the ball high into
the air towards the Nigerian post. The
gaint of a Nigerian keeper, Emmanuel
Okala, dived to the right while the ball
dropped into the left side of the net.
Gooooaaal!!! 3-0. That was Condition No.
3, that each goal scored by India would be
counted as 3points while each by Nigeria
would be 1 as usual. (Nigeria agreed
because they believed that India could
never score. Or at least couldn’t score
more than one goal.) Emmanuel was
looking confused. He was very sure he had
dived towards the ball. Every other person
thought he’d deliberately let the Indians
score just to spice up the game.
Meanwhile, India’s fan club was going wild
with jubilation.
Priii… The Nigerian forwards Sunday
Atuma & Thompson Usiyen passed. As
Thompson passed to Paul Hamilton, he
was surprised when he saw India’s Faisal
Al-Dakheel with the ball. Faisal quickly
shot the ball into the air towards Nigeria’s
post. Goooal! 6-0. Thompson was so
confused. He could have sworn it was Paul
his teammate he had passed to.
Priii… Sunday Atuma passed into the
Nigerian half. Alloysius Atuegbu passed to
Haruna Ilerika. Haruna made a long pass
into the Indian half to Samuel Okoye. He
was shocked when he saw the ball in the
legs of Abdullah Al-Shemmari. Haruna
wiped his eyes in disbelief. Too late!
Abdullah shot the ball into the air. Goal!
9-0. Three goals in barely six minutes?
Nigerian spectators were wondering what
was happening.
Priii… Goal! 12-0. Yusuf Al-Suwayed.
15-0. Amer Al-Amer. 18-0. Majed
Suleman’s second goal. 21-0. Abdulaziz
Al-Buloushi. 24-0. Majed’s hat-trick.
27-0. Faisal Al-Dakheel’s second goal.
30-0. Waleed Al-Mubarak. At the twentieth
minute, Nigeria’s Paul Hamilton ran with
the ball all the way to India’s box-18. But
as he raised his leg to shoot, he slipped &
fell. India’s defender Mahboub Jumaa
easily took the ball as Paul lay on the
ground moaning like a baby. That was the
nearest Nigeria had gotten to the Indian
post so far.
Twenty-five minutes later & eight goals
more, the score stood at 54-0. Some
spectators angrily left the stadium even
before the half-time whistle. Others waited
patiently, hoping that Nigeria would
revenge in the 2nd half.
“Boys, what the hell is happening out
there?!” Coach Jorge Penna was furious.
“You’re the damn captain, answer me!!” he
was shouting at Emmanuel Okala.
Emmanuel was speechless. He didn’t know
what to say.
“Co-co-coach…” Godwin Achebe began “I
think I know what’s happening sir”
The coach was glaring at him now.
“Those Indians dey use juju. They’re using
ma-magic.”
“Yes! Yes!” his teammates echoed &
nodded & murmured amongst themselves.
“Shut up you fools!! Magic my foot!!! There
is no magic in football!”

Who are you.. no offence meant but how did u know all this?

Nexxy007:
i meant football specifically

Priority differs... Nigeria don't play rugby, cricket is almost non existing


The way we gather to watch football is the way they gather to watch cricket

In India cricket, marriage and film are indispensable

Moreover football is now gaining ground

The likes of James (ex Portsmouth goal keeper) del piero are playing in India league

Most countries colonized, the sport practice then is the popular sport now

Nexxy007:
i meant football specifically

i guess football is not popular there but they have a league there though

@ O.P, It's congestive heart failure, not cognitive.

Ruffychuks:
Many have heard about this match. Some
think it’s an urban legend. Some think it’s
only a joke. But only few know the truth.
A long time ago, few months after the end
of the Nigeria-Biafra war, the Military
Governor of Lagos decided to stage an
exhibition match at the then glorious
National Stadium Lagos. He thought it
would be a special way of celebrating
Nigeria’s victory in the war, a way of
helping Lagosians to forget the sad bloody
years that had just passed. He wanted to
stage the match between Nigeria & Ghana
but was advised against it. His advisers
reminded him how Ghana trashed Nigeria
3-Nil at the 1960 Independence Match,
that another loss to Ghana might defeat
the purpose of the exhibition match. His
advisers suggested that they choose a
team that would be very easy to beat.
Brig Gen Mobolaji Johnson agreed.
Ethiopia was considered. Zimbabwe was
considered. India was considered. USA was
considered. And India was chosen. He &
his advisers believed that India would be a
walkover. But had he known what would
happen he might have chosen Brazil. Yes,
Brazil were the reigning world champions
at the time but… Oh, had he known.
India agreed to play the exhibition match
with Nigeria. In fact, they were overjoyed.
Nigeria was one of the best teams in
Africa. And they had never played with an
African team before. What more! They were
most overjoyed that Nigeria had agreed to
their three special conditions. What were
these conditions?
Well, on that fateful day, a bright Saturday
afternoon on August 15th, 1970, the
National Stadium Lagos was filled with
excited spectators. That was Condition No.
1, that the match be played on India’s
Independence Day. As the players of
Nigeria & India came into the pitch,
spectators screamed with more excitement
as they saw that all the twenty-two
players were barefooted. That was
Condition No. 2. (Remember that India
had withdrawn from the 1950 World Cup
because they weren’t allowed to play
barefooted.)
Priiii… Referee Mohamed Touati blew his
whistle to begin the game. (The Tunisian
referee had been suspended by FIFA earlier
that year but had accepted to officiate this
special match.) Indian forward Amer Al-
Amer made the first pass. And before
anyone could say “Bosnia-Herzegovina”,
one Majed Suleman fired the ball high into
the air towards the Nigerian post. The
gaint of a Nigerian keeper, Emmanuel
Okala, dived to the right while the ball
dropped into the left side of the net.
Gooooaaal!!! 3-0. That was Condition No.
3, that each goal scored by India would be
counted as 3points while each by Nigeria
would be 1 as usual. (Nigeria agreed
because they believed that India could
never score. Or at least couldn’t score
more than one goal.) Emmanuel was
looking confused. He was very sure he had
dived towards the ball. Every other person
thought he’d deliberately let the Indians
score just to spice up the game.
Meanwhile, India’s fan club was going wild
with jubilation.
Priii… The Nigerian forwards Sunday
Atuma & Thompson Usiyen passed. As
Thompson passed to Paul Hamilton, he
was surprised when he saw India’s Faisal
Al-Dakheel with the ball. Faisal quickly
shot the ball into the air towards Nigeria’s
post. Goooal! 6-0. Thompson was so
confused. He could have sworn it was Paul
his teammate he had passed to.
Priii… Sunday Atuma passed into the
Nigerian half. Alloysius Atuegbu passed to
Haruna Ilerika. Haruna made a long pass
into the Indian half to Samuel Okoye. He
was shocked when he saw the ball in the
legs of Abdullah Al-Shemmari. Haruna
wiped his eyes in disbelief. Too late!
Abdullah shot the ball into the air. Goal!
9-0. Three goals in barely six minutes?
Nigerian spectators were wondering what
was happening.
Priii… Goal! 12-0. Yusuf Al-Suwayed.
15-0. Amer Al-Amer. 18-0. Majed
Suleman’s second goal. 21-0. Abdulaziz
Al-Buloushi. 24-0. Majed’s hat-trick.
27-0. Faisal Al-Dakheel’s second goal.
30-0. Waleed Al-Mubarak. At the twentieth
minute, Nigeria’s Paul Hamilton ran with
the ball all the way to India’s box-18. But
as he raised his leg to shoot, he slipped &
fell. India’s defender Mahboub Jumaa
easily took the ball as Paul lay on the
ground moaning like a baby. That was the
nearest Nigeria had gotten to the Indian
post so far.
Twenty-five minutes later & eight goals
more, the score stood at 54-0. Some
spectators angrily left the stadium even
before the half-time whistle. Others waited
patiently, hoping that Nigeria would
revenge in the 2nd half.
“Boys, what the hell is happening out
there?!” Coach Jorge Penna was furious.
“You’re the damn captain, answer me!!” he
was shouting at Emmanuel Okala.
Emmanuel was speechless. He didn’t know
what to say.
“Co-co-coach…” Godwin Achebe began “I
think I know what’s happening sir”
The coach was glaring at him now.
“Those Indians dey use juju. They’re using
ma-magic.”
“Yes! Yes!” his teammates echoed &
nodded & murmured amongst themselves.
“Shut up you fools!! Magic my foot!!! There
is no magic in football!”

Lolz... Finish the story. . This fiction is captivating ah swear

lol... if u never heard dz cock nd bull story ....den u re still a kid

Do you know how old I am now to believe that crap?

just like bermuda triangle




the match never existed

Gari and mango dey kill

This match is true
We grew up with it
It's part of our shildhood

Too late to refute

ugodollars50:



How do we verify this?

I believe him more than Op