Hapoel Be’er Sheva of Israel midfielder, John Ugochukwu Ogu (Suker) has confessed that getting the chance to captain Nigeria’s Super Eagles in a friendly against Liberia’ and their president, George Opong Weah is a day he will never forget.
After leading the Eagles to a historic 2-1 win a match that turned out to be a ceremonial send forth for Weah from soccer into politics, Ugo said he felt like he was in a dream.
In November 2017, Eagles’ manager, Gernot Rohr gave the captain’s armband to Brighton defender, Leon Aderemi Balogun for the World Cup qualifier against Algeria, despite Ogu being the most senior player in the squad, having made his senior debut five years ago.
This time, though, against all the odds, Ogu took the captain’s band, ahead of Balogun, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Onyinyen, one of who had initially been tipped to lead the squad in the absence of John Mikel Obi, Ahmed Musa, William Troost-Ekong and Eddy Ogenyi Onazi.
The 30-year-old left-footed, who had won 18 caps for the national team prior to Tuesday evening’s game, went the distance at Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Monrovia.
In reaction to the honour, Ogu took to social media to celebrate his happy day, one never to forget – September 11, 2018; saying he felt in dreamland, from which he would not want to wake up.
Ogu posted: “Don’t wake me up from this dream. Captain the Super Eagles of Nigeria with such Wonderful talents in a game against Liberia with the President of Liberia on the pitch and the only African player to win the Ballon d’Or. I will never forget this day in my life…I feel blessed.”
