The Legendry Soccer ICON Ezeji HI-Chief Christopher A. Nwandiko. (UGO 1 of OBOAMA/UMUNAMA) forever will be remembered, his soccer talents and human capacity development remains evergreen.
The ORACLE MBAISE ANCIENT KINGDOM UNITY TOURNEY among the villages in Oboama/Umunama Ezinihitte Mbaise is the masterpiece and another opportunity opened to showcase raw talents for partneship development of soccer withing mbaise Nation.
Obo/Umu is the “SEAT OF CREATION” and ancestral home of all clans in Ezinihitte Mbaise Imo state will be the convergence point for soccer lovers and scouts from October 2025 to 3rd Jan 2026.
During the unveiling ceremony held recently at the Legend’s Villa Oboama Ezinihitte Mbaise Imo Stete Nigeria, fans of Late High-chief were elated appreciative to the Donor Ezeji Obinna Nwandiko (THE ORACLE), for the laudable initiatives.
While donating footballs and other materials to the teams, The soccer star Obinna highlighted:
“I’m inspired by my father’s talents and passion for soccer, i watched him playing at my adolescent stage. This project is First of its kind among obo/Umu clan hence i adviced all the teams to abide by the guidelines and exhihit spirit of sportsmanship. The safety of match officials are guaranteed hence We will not tolerate any act/s that will bring this tournament to disrepute”.
He assured of consolation prizes to all participants outside the Champions and runners up.
The Publicity Directorate led by Hon Engr Andyson Obani while Fielding questions from our correspondence extolled the virtues of Ezeji Christopher Nwandiko whom he described as epitom of soccer inspiration and skillful player that score goal/s with his head in any match played and Well known for tactical mesmerization of any defence.
Hi-chief from Umuatum Oboama started his early football carrier as a young talented footballer without footwears at ST Anthony’,s primary School Umunama in 1950. The school he represented and won many trophies during his days.
Due to his academic excellency combined with soccer, many secondary schools in southern Nigeria offered him free admissions for secondary school studies.
Ezeji later accepted Stella Marris Secondary Diobu Ph with foreign missionary as principal.
His performances as ” KEY CENTER FORWARD” current known as Strikers or “Attacking Mildfielder” earned him many fans and accolades because he plays both legs.
No wonder the German principal of Stella Maris normaly drives down to mbaise and pick Him anytime he is not available to represent the school in soccer match.
This was at a time when parents sees footballers as unserious set of students.
Even as a married man with children, Ezeji passion for soccer never faded until he trew in the towel due to carrier threatening injury sustained in early 80’s.
As pan-Igbo soccer legend, his Favourite Nigerian footballer is Kanu Nwankwo (papilo), which made him a die-hard Asernal Fc fan till death. Known for paying ticket fees of all Arsenal fans at aboh stadium and viewing centers in Obo/Umu.
De Christi’s philanthropist gestures extended towards sponsoring different football teams for competitions withing and outside Mbaise esspecial Umuatum worriors Fc Oboama.
His main joy was seeing people happy and recieving any of his sponsored teams with trophies at his residence.
to Super Eagles forward Samuel Chukwueze on the passing of his mother.
The President also extends his sympathies to the family and friends of Mrs Sarah Chukwueze, who passed away on Thursday.
President Tinubu mourns with the Chukwueze family and encourages them to find solace in the memory and legacy of their late matriarch.
“The passing of Mrs Chukwueze, the mother of one of our bright football stars, just a few days after the passing of Super Eagles’ captain Wilfred Ndidi’s father, is deeply saddening.
I mourn with them, and I am with them in prayers during this difficult time,” the President says.
President Tinubu prays that God Almighty will grant the departed eternal rest.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information and Strategy)
Former Super Eagles captain Sunday Oliseh has attributed Nigeria’s failure to clinch the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco to what he described as indiscipline on the part of Victor Osimhen, arguing that individual actions disrupted team unity at a critical stage of the tournament.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Oliseh said Osimhen’s public confrontation with teammate Ademola Lookman during Nigeria’s 4–0 Round of 16 win over Mozambique disrupted the squad’s chemistry and weakened their title chances.
During the match, Osimhen appeared to rebuke Lookman for not releasing the ball in an attacking move, an incident that drew backlash from fans who criticised the striker’s conduct as unprofessional.
Oliseh claimed the consequences were felt beyond the Mozambique fixture, insisting Lookman’s form dipped noticeably afterwards, affecting Nigeria’s attacking potency in the semifinal.
“Let’s look at the toxicity that might have cost us the AFCON title,” he said. “We are confusing talent with licence. Victor Osimhen is world-class, but talent is not a license to destroy team chemistry.”
“Look at the evidence. Since that public outburst against Ademola Lookman, one of our brightest lights, he became a shadow of himself, and we lost our bite. When you publicly diminish your teammates, you break their spirit.”
He added that Lookman had been “the most dangerous player in the tournament until that public verbal abuse broke his focus,” arguing that Nigeria lost “the psychological edge needed to win” against a disciplined Moroccan side in the semifinal.
Oliseh also criticized what he described as a fan culture that now tolerates such behavior: “What’s worse, and frankly, what’s most dangerous for our football is the fan culture that now tolerates this.”
His critique widened to include Osimhen’s earlier public comments attacking former Super Eagles coach Finidi George. While acknowledging Osimhen’s value, Oliseh stressed that no player is bigger than the national team.
“Scoring goals for Nigeria doesn’t give you a licence to disrespect certified legends like Finidi George or Victor Ikpeba. It doesn’t give you the right to disrespect your coaches or teammates,” he said. “If goals alone justified arrogance, what should the legends who put Nigeria at the pinnacle of world football, like Amokachi, Amunike, Okocha, Babangida and myself, do? Walk on people’s heads?”
Oliseh warned that continued indiscipline and poor administration would damage the team’s future: “If we don’t fix the discipline and the administration, there won’t be a Super Eagles left to support.”
He also criticised the celebrations that followed Nigeria’s third-place finish, when the Super Eagles beat Egypt on penalties.
“There was a time the Super Eagles shed tears at second place, because to us anything but the trophy was a failure; celebrating third place built a culture of mediocrity,” he said.
