Red Devils 1949 Visit to England; the Birth of Nigerian Football

The game of football also known as soccer, is one sport that can either keep fathers, sons, brothers glued to the TV set at home or takes them away to stadiums, viewing centres etc. The passion behind the game referred to as the “king of all sports” is so intense that enthusiasts subconsciously become fanatics without knowing when they cross the line.

Most Nigerians will tell you they are not fanatics but there have occasions where many lost appetite and went to bed on an empty stomach because their favourite team lost while others had something to eat but could not because they excitedly kicked the food placed on the table for them by their wife, mother, sister or girlfriend while watching the beautiful game on TV.

This is not to say football is strictly a male game and women are relegated because recently the women’s team have been the bragging right of the country when it comes to football. “Eliminating opposition teams like magic. Yes, the Nigerian female teams have continued to embarrass the nation with laurels.

Football has a unique passion that serves as is a unifying element in the Nigerian society if properly harnessed and put to good use. The joy and patriotism displayed by the citizenry when the national team is competing in an international duel is incomparable.

The history of Nigerian football dates back to the 20^th century before the country got its independence. It all started when Baron Mulford, a Briton organised weekly matches that involved Europeans and Nigerians in Lagos.

The Nigerian team was assembled from youths in Lagos but later from players who participated in the 1942 inaugural cup competition called “War Memorial Challenge”, the Nigerian team played soccer without boots. The first edition of the War Memorial Challenge was won by ZAC Bombers.

When the Nigerian Football Association was officially inaugurated in 1945 (the body had been operating since 1933) one of the first points of duty by the NFA was to organise the Governor’s Cup to replace the War Memorial Challenge. 

The new competition involved the whole country and the first winner was Lagos Marine. By 1948, efforts were underway to form a national team built around players discovered at the Governor’s Cup. Early star players in the national team were Dan Anyiam (Lagos UAC), Peter Anieke and Teslim Balogun (both of Lagos Railway).

Nigeria’s first national team was called the “UK Tourists” and after some warm-up games the excited team went to the UK to test its strength against footballs best in “the home of football”.

The team departed Nigeria through RMSS Apapa, Lagos on the August 16^th, 1949 for a playing tour of England. The contingent arrived Liverpool 13 days later.

The players who made the trip and the clubs they represented were: Goalkeepers: Sam Ibiam (Port Harcourt), Isaac Akioye (Hercules, Ibadan); The defenders were: Justin Onwudiwe (Lagos Railway), Olisa Chukwura (Abeokuta), ATB Ottun (Lagos Marines), Isiaku Shittu (Lagos UAC), John Dankaro (Jos), Hope Lawson (Lagos Marine), Dan Anyiam (Lagos UAC), Okoronkwo Kanu (Land & Survey);

The attackers were: Mesembe Otu (Lagos Marine), Peter Anieke (Lagos Railway), Sokari Dokubo (Lagos Railway), Godwin Anosike (Lagos Railway), Tesilimi Balogun (Lagos Railway), Titus Okere (Lagos Railway), Etim Henshaw (Lagos Marine) and Edet Ben (Lagos Marine). Etim Henshaw was the team captain, making him our first ever national team captain. Teslim Balogun was the star. The team was coached by John Finch, a Briton.

Nigeria’s first ever official game was played against Marine Cosby, which the UK Tourist won 5-2. The next game was against an Athenian League XI (best eleven), the English team refused to play if the Tourists didn’t wear boots. The Tourists then wore boots and lost the match by 8-0 as the boots made them feel clumsy. They couldn’t run, shoot or control the ball.

The third game by Nigeria was played without boots and was generally agreed as the best game played on the tour. The game ended in a 2-2 draw with a Corinthians League XI. At the end of the tour of nine games, the team played 9 games, won 2, drew 2 and lost 5. All five losses were matches played with boots on.

After the tour, Teslim Balogun was signed by Petersborough United becoming the first ever Nigerian football export.

On their return home, the UK Tourists took on the new name, Red Devils, and stopped in Freetown, Sierra Leone. During that stopover in Sierra Leone, Nigeria played her first official game against another country, defeating Sierra Leone 2-0 on October 8, 1949.

In 1954 the Governor’s Cup was renamed FA Cup. The 1954 edition of the renamed FA Cup was won by Calabar FC who beat Kano Pillars 3-0 in the final. Meanwhile the Red Devils were still active, playing a series of friendly games against Ghana, including a 7-0 loss in 1955. In 1959 the NFA finally joined CAF then followed up by joining FIFA a year later as it approached independence.

Nigeria played against Egypt in a qualifying game for the Rome 1960 Olympic Games, its first ever competitive international. The team was made to wear green rather than the red they used to wear. It was from that moment that the name of the team was changed from Red Devils to Green Eagles.

The team is presently called the Super Eagles. Its name may have changed so many times, but one thing that has refused to change is the passion the team generates from fans when it plays.

It doesn’t matter what the cheer-slogan is, “up UK Tourist, up Red Devils or Up Eagles”, this game has brought smiles to so many people across the country, not minding their tribe, religion, social class or any other strata used to divide them, football unites Nigeria.