₦airaland Forum

It was a real story then , if you have watch Shaolin Soccer, that was the story behind Nigeria VS India match
Don't ask me how I take know, that time dem never dey televised football match.

timidapsin:
Growing up in Nigeria, many of us heard this crazy story…
That India once defeated Nigeria 99–1 in a football match.


As funny as it sounds now, a lot of people actually believed it.

So what really happened?
After digging into it, here’s the truth:
There is no official record from FIFA, CAF, or the Nigeria Football Federation of such a match ever happening. India and Nigeria have never played each other in any recognized international match from that era
A scoreline like 99–1 is practically impossible in real football
And of course… the ball never turned into a lion

So where did the story come from?
Most likely, it started as a schoolyard tale that spread from one person to another. Back then, without the internet, stories like this traveled fast and became “facts” over time.
It eventually became part of Nigerian football folklore.





I made a short video breaking everything down, including how the myth spread and what actually exists in football records.

Watch here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maeBg32ta-8⁠

One of the lambas we pass from generation to generation

timidapsin:
Growing up in Nigeria, many of us heard this crazy story…
That India once defeated Nigeria 99–1 in a football match.


As funny as it sounds now, a lot of people actually believed it.

So what really happened?
After digging into it, here’s the truth:
There is no official record from FIFA, CAF, or the Nigeria Football Federation of such a match ever happening. India and Nigeria have never played each other in any recognized international match from that era
A scoreline like 99–1 is practically impossible in real football
And of course… the ball never turned into a lion

So where did the story come from?
Most likely, it started as a schoolyard tale that spread from one person to another. Back then, without the internet, stories like this traveled fast and became “facts” over time.
It eventually became part of Nigerian football folklore.





I made a short video breaking everything down, including how the myth spread and what actually exists in football records.

Watch here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maeBg32ta-8⁠

Sam Okwaraji died in August 12 1989 that was a world cup qualifier against Angola at surulere Lagos .

Nigeria has never played any soccer game against India before till date .

That story is called in today’s day an AI generated story

Just like the story of a woman that appeared in an airport with an unknown passport.

Surprised that this story is being linked to Okwaraji. This story has nothing to do with Okwaraji...I was told this story as a young boy in 1978 at the time there was no footballer called Okwaraji. If I learnt about it in 1978 that means the story was there before me which is true.
It was like myth that was spread around long before Okwaraji. People should stop posting what is not.
We were even told stories about Indians throwing javelins out of the stadium.

alobright17:
Sam Okwaraji died in August 12 1989 that was a world cup qualifier against Angola at surulere Lagos .

Nigeria has never played any soccer game against India before till date .

That story is called in today’s day an AI generated story

Just like the story of a woman that appeared in an airport with an unknown passport.

Even at the time we were told the story as a child there was no footballer called Okwaraji.

For you to mention Okwaraji, it means you are Gen z. The original story was Teslim Balogun.

timidapsin:
Growing up in Nigeria, many of us heard this crazy story…
That India once defeated Nigeria 99–1 in a football match.


As funny as it sounds now, a lot of people actually believed it.

So what really happened?
After digging into it, here’s the truth:
There is no official record from FIFA, CAF, or the Nigeria Football Federation of such a match ever happening. India and Nigeria have never played each other in any recognized international match from that era
A scoreline like 99–1 is practically impossible in real football
And of course… the ball never turned into a lion

So where did the story come from?
Most likely, it started as a schoolyard tale that spread from one person to another. Back then, without the internet, stories like this traveled fast and became “facts” over time.
It eventually became part of Nigerian football folklore.





I made a short video breaking everything down, including how the myth spread and what actually exists in football records.

Watch here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maeBg32ta-8⁠

I didn't believe this rubbish

Actually Tunder Balogun

Misterone:
For you to mention Okwaraji, it means you are Gen z. The original story was Teslim Balogun.

If the story is false, prove if India has ever played in FIFA World Cup finals. No — India has never played in the senior FIFA World Cup finals. That is a fact and it was because of the ban. Why the ban? Because they used Juju to beat Nigeria 99-1. You think you can come and spoil the JOKE that was used to serenade our childhood? . Hard task: If you can prove India in a world cup, then I can believe it is a life.

Even with technology I don't think this generation had fun like some of us back then. This India vs Nigeria match was one of the stories that gave us premium joy.



Children nowadays nor sabi play, any small thing dem don shift pant.

The story was a myth just like the madam koi-koi story back then

Mccullum:
When did the fake story change the player from Thunder Balogun to Samuel Okwaraji.

Indomie generations changed Thunder Balogun to Samuel Okwaraji

Thunder Balogun change your leeeeeg

That’s why I s good to verify always without restrictions or reservations.

How did the story get such publicity?

Bahamas95:
Even with technology I don't think this generation had fun like some of us back then. This India vs Nigeria match was one of the stories that gave us premium joy.



Children nowadays nor sabi play, any small thing dem don shift pant.

The version of the story I heard in the 80s was even crazier and unbelievable. The story goes that India was already 99 goals up against Nigeria because every attempt on goal would have the ball transform into a lion making a mad dash at the Nigerian goal keeper. Although this occurrence is only visible to the goalkeeper (spectators were oblivious of the Indian magic), he is forced to run away from the goal post just to avoid the rampaging lion. The consolation goal for Nigeria came from Teslim Balogun (Thunder Balogun). After dribbling several Indian defenders the ball transformed into a stone and then three fingers of banana. He was said to have removed and eaten the banana in the middle so as to neutralize the spell on Nigerian footballers.Then the frustrated Indians defenders brought him down in the 18 yard box and Nigeria got a penalty kick. So Thunder Balogun stepped up to take the spot kick. Before the referee sounded his whistle for the kick to be taken, his wife standing close to the touch line admonished him to "remember your left foot" for the strike. Indeed, Thunder is reputed to pack powerful shots in his left foot. So he stepped up and fired the shot. The sting and power in the ball caused it to go through the Indian goalie's abdomen and even made it through the net afterward, and never to be found up till this day

My findings showed that this story predates the death of Samuel Okwaraji at the national stadium in Lagos, and India was actually banned by FIFA from playing soccer in the 50s because they always played barefooted which was against the rules of the game. Although not confirmed, Thunder Balogun may actually have killed someone trying to save his shot in Jos, Plateau State during his playing day.

Immediately after reading the heading, my memories goes to the very guy and the scenes (we sat round the guy) that narrated this story to us in our secondary school days. And we all believed it

Where do you see Okwaraji even okwataji himself met that story ..
Na Thunder Balgoun get the story una too like to dey distort history ..both reality and fables

timidapsin:
funny how most of all these fake stories were spread by the elderly ones.

Few other ones
"Ronaldinho said Okocha taught him how to play football"

"Drogba was once a defender and Mourinho turned him to a striker"

"Bale, Dimaria and many other players were in Illuminati"

Also none football ones like madam koi koi

And many I can no longer remember

Drogba actually started out as a Defender but it wasn't Jose Mourinho that turned him to a Striker.

fredoooooo:
Where do you see Okwaraji even okwataji himself met that story ..
Na Thunder Balgoun get the story una too like to dey distort history ..both reality and fables

Indeed the story was for Thunder Balogun and just as every age has their own version of the story, Sam Okwaraji entered the story with 1990-1999 kids.

I was at the National Stadium the day Sam Okwaraji died. Nigeria Vs Angola 1-0. In fact, there were other fatalities at the Stadium that day of fans. At least 5-6 fans died due to exhaustion.

Lukuluku69:
Indeed the story was for Thunder Balogun and just as every age has their own version of the story, Sam Okwaraji entered the story with 1990-1999 kids.

I was at the National Stadium the day Sam Okwaraji died. Nigeria Vs Angola 1-0. In fact, there were other fatalities at the Stadium that day of fans. At least 5-6 fans died due to exhaustion.

Okwaraji has no place in the fable ..
I was in that Stadium as well ..and i witness the whole saga

Och77:
Actually Tunder Balogun

His name was Teslim Balogun!

The "Thunder" was an alias for his blistering shots!

Emeskhalifa:
So why don't India play world cup? If you say our forefathers lied?

They wanted to play without boots and FIFA refused.

Och77:
Actually Tunder Balogun

His name is Teslim

timidapsin:
Growing up in Nigeria, many of us heard this crazy story…
That India once defeated Nigeria 99–1 in a football match.


As funny as it sounds now, a lot of people actually believed it.

So what really happened?
After digging into it, here’s the truth:
There is no official record from FIFA, CAF, or the Nigeria Football Federation of such a match ever happening. India and Nigeria have never played each other in any recognized international match from that era
A scoreline like 99–1 is practically impossible in real football
And of course… the ball never turned into a lion

So where did the story come from?
Most likely, it started as a schoolyard tale that spread from one person to another. Back then, without the internet, stories like this traveled fast and became “facts” over time.
It eventually became part of Nigerian football folklore.





I made a short video breaking everything down, including how the myth spread and what actually exists in football records.

Watch here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maeBg32ta-8⁠

Growing up I read the comic Hamish the Hotshot and I had my boyhood fantasies about those curved hotshots that made it into the net from impossible angles!🤣🤣🤣🤣

Biggest Lie Ever Told

So why India never feature in world cup ever since

Remembering the song we used to sing for okwaraji after his death. " Oh okwaraji 2x, iwo nikan lomo baba, iwo nikan lomo yeye, tan ba ngba ball lorun, ko gewon lege ara". Meaning, oh okwaraji, you are the only child of your mum and your dad, if there's anything like football in heaven, please dribble them as a great player you are. May his soul continue to rest.

Easysolution:
This is revised version of the story ,because I've been hearing this story before the death of Sam okwaraji, I watch the match live but I no pay for ticket O na tejuoso fence we dey follow enter that time.

Heavily revised. Game that Teslim "Thunder" Balogun played and "remembered his left leg" which he used to fire the shot that scores Nigeria's goal? Sam Okwaraji(+) was a bomboy when Thunder Balogun "scored" that goal

timidapsin:
Growing up in Nigeria, many of us heard this crazy story…
That India once defeated Nigeria 99–1 in a football match.


As funny as it sounds now, a lot of people actually believed it.

So what really happened?
After digging into it, here’s the truth:
There is no official record from FIFA, CAF, or the Nigeria Football Federation of such a match ever happening. India and Nigeria have never played each other in any recognized international match from that era
A scoreline like 99–1 is practically impossible in real football
And of course… the ball never turned into a lion

So where did the story come from?
Most likely, it started as a schoolyard tale that spread from one person to another. Back then, without the internet, stories like this traveled fast and became “facts” over time.
It eventually became part of Nigerian football folklore.





I made a short video breaking everything down, including how the myth spread and what actually exists in football records.

Watch here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maeBg32ta-8⁠

It was a childhood fable that so e of us grew up to realise that it was all lies, but to my surprise, a childhood friend of mine, even after graduated from the university around 2010 still believed and was arguing with me that that story actually happened. Anyways, he's one of those churchy type of people who be believe so much in fetish stuff.

timidapsin:
funny how most of all these fake stories were spread by the elderly ones.

Few other ones
"Ronaldinho said Okocha taught him how to play football"

"Drogba was once a defender and Mourinho turned him to a striker"

"Bale, Dimaria and many other players were in Illuminati"

Also none football ones like madam koi koi

And many I can no longer remember

STOP LYING.

NOBODY SAID THAT.

WHAT IS SAID AND KNOWN, AND EVEN ADMITTED BY RONALDINHO HIMSELF, IS THAT JAY JAY OKOCHA WAS HIS MENTOR AT PSG, WHO TAUGHT HIM SKILLS.

ALWAYS LOOKING TO PULL DOWN YOUR OWN.