The 15th edition of the FIFA World Cup in the United States, US’94 World Cup was staged in nine US cities with the opening ceremony staged at the Soldier Field in Chicago, the state of Illinois. The Stadium witnessed the opening match between Germany, the defending champion and Bolivia on June 17, 1994. Germany won by a slim margin of 1-0, a goal scored by Jurgen Klinsman in the 61stminute. The tournament featured 24 national teams grouped into six groups of four teams each. Brazil ultimately won the tournament by defeating Italy 3-2 in a penalty shootout after the match ended 0-0 at regulation and extra time. Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasedena hosted the match attended by over 102,083 spectators in attendance. Rose Bowl also hosted eight other matches during the tournament. RFK Stadium in Washington DC with a capacity of 56,500seats was the smallest venue in terms of capacity. The USA’94 World Cup was Nigeria’s first appearance in the FIFA World Cup. The Eagles were grouped in group D alongside Bulgaria, Argentina and Greece and was leading the African World cup challenge as the African Champions having earlier won the AFCON in Tunisia. The Eagles surpassed all expectations as a first timer by dispatching Bulgaria 3-0 in the first game of the group. The Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas that evening was agog with African style music and dances, jubilation and ululation as virtually all blacks present with a few white freethinkers joined in unending celebration. It must be noted that Bulgarian national team parading star players in Hristo Stoichkov, Nasko Sirakov and Emil Kostadinov also held high hopes of perhaps winning the world cup, therefore for a neophyte like Nigeria beating them not just by a narrow margin but by as many as three unreplied goals was an eye opener to other teams. In fact, Bulgaria went ahead to play in third place but lost 0-4 to the rampaging Sweden led by Tomas Brolin, Hakan Mild, Henrik Larsson and Kennet Andersson. Nigeria’s goals were scored by Rashidi Yekini which historically was the first goal for Nigeria in the world cup final, Daniel Amokachi scored the second goal while the third came through Emmanuel Amuneke. The Eagles ended up winning the group with 6 points plus a superior goal difference against Bulgaria and Argentina who also had 6 points. Nigeria won against Bulgaria and Greece but lost 1-2 to Argentina. Nigeria achieved a great feat in its first appearance at the world cup qualifying to the round of 16 but lost 1-2 to Italy after extra time. There were two dates that will remain evergreen in my memory, first was June21st when Nigeria defeated Bulgarian in her first game of the world cup, thus announcing her arrival in the comity of football playing nations and on July 5th when Nigeria lost to Italy in the round of 16 at the Foxboro Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts by 1 goal to 2 in the extra time. While the first instance was a very elating and memorable one beating Bulgaria by whopping 3-0, a team that beat Mexico 3-1 in the round of 16, and went ahead and sent out the defending champions, Germany 2-1 in the quarterfinal, the second was an agonizing spectacle that dashed raised hopes of Nigeria reaching the quarterfinals of the world cup. At a point after Emmanuel Amunike’s goal in the 25th minute, it looked possible that Nigeria could make it, especially when the lone goal lead dragged on until the 89th minute before Roberto Baggio equalized for Italy. It was almost doable, almost and very nearly done by Nigeria but as my uncle would say, “nearly cannot kill a bird”. Roberto again inflicted the final wound to Nigeria when he converted a penalty in the 102nd minute of the extra time and that posted the requiem on Nigeria’s adventure in USA’94 World Cup:

What a piteous spectacle!

What a moment of complete loss of concentration!!

What madness?

What was Austin Eguavoen thinking when he tripped that player?

I don’t think the referee is right in awarding that penalty!!!

Today, the FIFA World Cup, USA’94 has ended for Nigeria and for Africa!!!!

These were Richard Asiegbu and I, bemoaning, lamenting, cursing, casting and binding the “evil” spirit that caused us a match we had won in a twinkle of an eye. It was mind blowing. What really happened? The answer to that question is still blowing in the wind. Despite our loss, the tournament went on with vigor and renewed enthusiasm on the players, fans and journalists of the countries that were still in the tournament. Despite our loss, we couldn’t lose sight of the fact that Nigeria topped her group against Bulgaria, Argentina’s Maradona and Greece in her first attendant at the world cup. Nigeria got to the round of 16 in her first attempt at the world cup and became the 2nd best attacking and entertaining team just after Brazil, the winner of the world cup. We needed to look for areas to console ourselves just like the agama lizard. Till today, Emmanuel Amuneke’s goal against Bulgaria still ranks as one of the best goals of the tournament. Overall, the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States was a masterclass filled with unforgettable moments. The highest attendance in world cup history was recorded as three million, five hundred and eighty-seven thousand, five hundred and thirty-eight fans attended with an average attendance of sixty-eightthousand, nine hundred and ninety- nine per game. Roger Milla’s goal at the age of 42 marked him as the oldest world cup goal scorer. USA’94 World Cup marked Argentina’s Diego Armando Maradona’s last world cup appearance before he was suspended for doping violation.Perhaps as our friend Barry Maughn of VOA would say, one of the highlights of Nigeria’s participation would include Rashidi Yekini’s awkward celebration of his first world cup goal for Nigeria by trying to dismantle the net. USA’94 World Cup introduced new rules to encourage attacking football such as the 3 points for a win and a ban on back-passes to goalkeepers. It also revolutionized television coverage of sports and a proper establishment of football league in the United States. The FIFA World Cup in the USA brought order and professionalism to broadcasters in the coverage of the games. Every commentary booth had its own television monitor and a working computer both for television and radio. The computers were helpful in callbacks to recollect similar happenstances in the world cup. It had a dossier on every player, detailing his age, years of playing, club he was playing, what he earns, position he plays for his club and every other useful information. There was also a dictionary on meanings and correct pronunciation of names especially teams from Greece and other parts of Eastern Europe. For the first time we had a well-equipped International Broadcast Centre, IBC, for broadcasters who did not pay for commentary positions at the stadium. Such broadcasters were given the monitors and international feed to be able to run commentaries as if they were live in the stadium. To me the most intriguing thing was the fly-away kit by the BBC which they used in setting up their commentary while on our way to Rose Bowl stadium for the final as we were running late to the closing ceremony as we were held up onthe bus. Those of us broadcasters were mouth agape watching the Holywood-Nollwood exhibition. We took note and brought it to the attention of our management. It never materialized until I retired from the services of Radio Nigeria!

The 15th FIFA World Cup, USA’94, afforded me a one-in a lifetime opportunity of transversing the nine host venues. I landed at O’Hare Airport in Chicago in the state of Illinois, a very busy but beautifully organized system where most services are self-delivered including transportation out of the airport through the Free Airport Transit System, [ATS] connecting the five passenger terminals, parking lots and rental care center. There is also  public transportationoptions like the CTA Blue Line. I was in New Jersey [Giants Stadium], Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan, CottonBowl in Dallas, Texas, Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida, Stanford Stadium in San Francisco, Foxboro Stadium in Massachusetts, RFK Stadium in Washington DC and Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California that hosted the final match of the US’94 World Cup. The FRCN Management granted us a two week stay after the world cup reporting about life after the Mundial in the USA with local issues such as the O.J Simpson saga until we exited through the Los Angeles International Airport, LAX, on August 2nd, 1994.