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•48 years after, Ohanaeze clears FG’s indebtedness to former African champions
From Daniel Ezindu, Enugu
October 22, 2025, was a day of restitution in the life of Ndigbo as the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, wiped away tears of members of the 1977 all-conquering team of Rangers International Football Club of Nigeria.
The Federal Government, under the military administration of General Olusegun Obasanjo, had made a pledge to members of the Rangers FC that won the African winner’s cup in 1977.
Government had paid N25,000 to the club when it won the African trophy as against N50,000 it paid to the ICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan that won the same trophy a year earlier.
Ndigbo felt bad at the value depreciation, instead of appreciation, of the monetary value of the trophy. They agitated, complained, but it was not remedied by government.
Forty-eight years after, Ndigbo said they have not forgotten the football club that rejuvenated their spirit after their defeat in the Nigeria-Biafra war. So, they made it up by paying the ex-football players N1 million each.
Among the ex-Rangers FC players who confirmed receiving the money, in a ceremony at the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide secretariat in Enugu, were former goalkeeper, Emmanuel Okala, ex-Rangers skipper, Dominic Nwobodo (Chairman), and some others who were able to attend the ceremony.
Some other Rangers FC legends who are now late, such as Coach Christian Chukwu, were either represented by proxies or their wives, children and relatives.
President-General Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Azuta Mbata, said: “If the federal government has forgotten, the Igbo would never forget.
“This is a typical Nigeria thing. This is a pledge made by the Federal Government but it is Ohanaeze Ndigbo that is redeeming the pledge today. This is to further show how Igbo affairs are not of interest to Nigeria. One who is rejected does not reject himself.
“Rangers International Football Club of Nigeria, immediately after the civil war, when America and Britain collaborated and defeated the Igbo in the war, at that lowest ebb of Ndigbo after their defeat, Rangers FC rose up as a beacon of light, as a beacon of strength, hope, and as a beacon of resurgence at that ebb of Igbo history.
“They won the intercontinental cup and the government made a promise to give them N25,000. That promise was never redeemed. Since government has refused to redeem it, the Igbo people will redeem it. Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, as an organization watching out for the interest of people all over the world, is standing in today to redeem that pledge.
“Let it be heard all over the world that the Igbo will never forget Rangers. All those people who fought gallantly, who played for Rangers, whether dead or alive, Ohanaeze will honour them today. That is why we have gathered out of 19 of them that played, eight of them are still alive while 11 of them are demised. Whether they are dead or alive, Ohanaeze will remember them. The labours of our heroes’ past shall never be in vain and so it shall be for Rangers players.”
Ex-goalkeeper, Okala, who spoke on behalf of his teammates, said it was a great thing that he was still alive to witness the fulfilment, pledging that they will utilize the money in their medical upkeep: “Since 1977, some of our people are dead, it was N25,000 and now it has been made manifest.”
He disclosed that they formed a group of ex-players of the club, which has kept them united even as they are planning remembrance of their fallen colleagues.
Okala wished Christian Chukwu were alive to witness the fulfilment of the delayed pledge.
Family members of some of the deceased football legends poured encomiums on Ohanaeze for its commendable and heartwarming intervention.
Mrs. Caroline Mecha said it took character and sense of history to remember an unfulfilled pledge of almost five decades: “I really thank God for using them to bless us so that we don’t feel so down in spirit that the efforts of our spouses were not properly appreciated. This shows to us as widows that though our husbands are gone, we still have people around.”
Amaka, widow of Kenneth Abana, thanked Ohanaeze for wiping away their tears. She prayed God to reward the leadership of the Igbo body for not forgetting the patriotic services of their spouses to Ndigbo and humanity.
