Q&A with Francis Moniedafe

Q&A Francis Moniedafe

Few people live up to the description of living legend as well as Nigerian Francis Moniedafe. A veteran of the game, Moniefade has done it all, from playing at every level of the game in Nigeria to refereeing and coaching. But he is mostly remembered for his role as a Nigerian International.

Francis Moniedafe became famous in the 70s in Nigeria when he joined Bendel Insurance of Benin where he played centre back. He was a tough-tackling defender who was so feared that many of the biggest name strikers of those days wouldn’t come near him.

In the 70s, the two dominant teams in Nigeria were Rangers of Enugu and IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan. The two clubs won everything in Nigeria and although Bendel had won the Challenge Cup – Nigeria’s version of the FA Cup -in 1972 and one league title in 1974, Rangers and Shooting Stars were still so dominant that they also won the Caf Cup Winners Cup. Shooting Stars won in 1976 and Rangers in 1977.

So in 1978 both teams were already African Champions and continued to run rampant in Nigerian football – until Moniefade and Bendel Insurance arrived with a new team. They defeated all comers along the way and beat IICC Shooting Stars in the Challenge Cup semi-finals, to set up the finals against Rangers.

Everyone expected Rangers to win but Bendel Insurance beat them 3-0, causing one of the biggest upsets not only in Nigeria but across Africa when the continent’s two best teams lost both semi and final without scoring a single goal – and conceding 5 to Bendel.

Bendel Insurance would go on to win the Nigerian league in 1979, losing only one game all season.

SPNAfrica’s Sammy Wejinya sat down with Moniedafe to hear how it all happened.

SPNAfrica (SPN): Kindly explain how you were first discovered. What are your earliest football memories?

Francis Moniedafe (FM): I was first discovered in Maiduguri by Coach Egbokodo who had been sent to Maiduguri from Benin by Samuel Ogbemudia. I had already finished high school then.

Before then I was like every kid who played street football any opportunity he got. Early memories were of the Jos team made up of the likes of Late Sam Garba and co. I was big on listening to radio commentaries of matches. ECN Warri Wolves WNDC and the Principal’s Cup in Lagos.

SPN: When was this?

FM: This was around 1972. At that time, he was the head coach of New Nigeria Bank (NNB) in Sapele.

SPN: What particular trait did Egbokodo and the other coaches, during your days as a youngster, discover in you?

FM: They all described me as a hardworking and no-nonsense player. I was playing wing-back but coach Egbokodo converted me to centre half.

SPN: Were you upset with the alteration?

FM: Not at all!  I loved it. The issue was the player was older and the Captain so the coaches there could not make the change until he came in, he eventually offered me a job with New Nigeria Bank.

SPN: What are your biggest memories from your days at New Nigeria Bank?

FM: My stay in NNB could be split into two phases. I came in from Maiduguri in 1973 and spent only a year before being sent to Asabatex to help build that team up.

When I joined, Bendel Insurance was the dominant team NNB. On the other hand, I was building to challenge with Asabatex.

My memory on that leg was sad with a 1-0 loss with Asabatex in Sapele. Where we were based, other than that, I had a great experience and introduction into big-time football. I came back to NNB in 1976 from Asabatex and won the State FA in 1977 as captain and ended up losing to IICC in the semi-finals in Lagos

SPN: What were the main reasons why NNB lost that semi-final?  

FM: They were a better experienced team with lots of proven players.

SPN: You are renowned for your accomplishments with Bendel Insurance….

How did the opportunity to join Insurance come up?

FM: I had never been a fan of Bendel Insurance! However, Insurance were rebuilding at that period. They had Coach Alabi Aissien in charge.

He already had an almost complete team but only needed a centre half as the final piece of the jigsaw.

Now, back in the day in Benin, you had to either play for Insurance or you would not be reckoned with!

Joining Insurance was a mutual thing as coach Alabi wanted me and I also wanted to play for Insurance.

So when he came calling, I obliged and the rest as they say, is history.

SPN: Rangers and IICC were the dominant teams when you joined Insurance. Was the initial target knocking those two storied institutions off their lofty perch?

FM: Our goal then with Coach Alabia Aisien was to be the best team in the country. The objective was that any opposition before us and in the way of us achieving our set objectives would be demolished!

It was as simple as that.

SPN: You beat Rangers 3-0 in the Challenge Cup final in 1978 when literally no one expected Rangers to lose.

What was the build up to the match like and what do you recall of that contest?

FM: Well, if no one believed we would win, we the players had no doubts about our ability to get the job done.

The spirit in our camp was very high before the game. We were all ready to roll. Our camp oozed confidence. There was no turning back for us at that point as it was a mission that had to be accomplished by any means.

SPN: What are your memories from that game?

FM: The whole game was memorable, most importantly though, my ability to neutralize their leading goal scorer, Nnamdi Nwokocha was a standout moment.

The first goal against them which Sylvanus Okala failed to stop was a ridiculous goal! It was a free kick from almost the centre circle scored by Peter Egharevba.

SPN: How were you able to stop Nnamdi? Did you make any special preparations pre match?

FM: No, I did not. I just did the normal defensive stuff I made sure I denied him the ball, be on him before he could get the ball and because I was also good in the air, he didn’t have much joy aerially.

My reputation of being a hard man helped too.

SPN: A year later, Insurance won the domestic league losing just one game…

What were the challenges faced in accomplishing that feat and what was the feeling like, eventually?

FM: We were bent on winning all, we took our challenges well and worked hard to achieve that goal. As a matter of fact the defense did not concede more than five goals during the entire season. The feeling was great and fulfilling.

SPN: Let’s discuss that solitary game Insurance lost that season?

Was it as a result of fatigue?

FM: Not really. We had just lost our Team Manager then to the cold hands of death so the mood within the camp was naturally and understandably gloomy.

He was a great motivator and a good friend of the entire team.  Morale was low and it affected our performance on the pitch. That’s not an excuse for the loss though.

SPN: What killed him? Was he sick?

FM: No, he wasn’t sick. He died as a result of a cardiac arrest. He went to sleep healthy and never woke up!

SPN: What are your memories of playing on the continent with Insurance?

FM:  It was exciting and I improved in terms of knowledgeable acquired as a footballer.

I will always remember our trip to Madagascar – a nice small island. We beat Sotema easily by 2-0 in Antananarivo and they came right back to Lagos two weeks later to beat us by the same margin before we scaled through on penalties.

It was complete dominance of Bendel in Lagos. We were over confident and almost paid a price. We almost went all the way in that competition and lost in the final to Camerounian club, Canon Sportif de Yaoundé,        

SPN: You played for Nigeria before leaving for the US for studies.  What was the experience like playing for the Green Eagles and how painful was it missing out on the 1980 AFCON?

FM: It always great to play for your country, like I said always I had a choice to make and I decided to further my education.

It is a decision I have never regretted one bit.

SPN: Did you follow the 1980 Afcon?

What were your immediate feelings the moment the final whistle went as we won the final 3-0 versus Algeria?

FM: It wasn’t that easy to follow football in America then. That was the 1980s soccer was nothing only foreigners played soccer, we got news late.

To be honest, I didn’t really think too much about it as I had school work to do.

However, when the news eventually trickled in, I was happy about the victory for Nigeria and my teammates.

SPN: Let’s talk more about your time in the States. Tell us about the NCAA battles North Carolina (Bendel Insurance Players) versus Clemson University (with Rangers International players)     

FM: It was a continuous battle carried over from Nigeria though we were at a disadvantage because we had only four namely Chris Ogu, Prince Afejuku, Sam Okpodu and I while they had about nine Rangers on the Clemson team.

They were always big battles in my four years with the team, they won three.

One of those matches was played on the same day the FA cup was played in Nigeria in 1981.

SPN: Coming back to play in Nigeria after graduation, what was the feeling like? 

FM: It was a disaster, with the benefit of hindsight.

I was not in top shape like I should have been.

Remember I had finished College was not ready for top flight football.

I did get back to shape and had issues with officials of the federation.

Looking back I should never have tried to come back and play.

SPN: You were seen as a no-nonsense defender. Were strikers scared of you?

Did you hear stories?

FM: Yes, they were! There was a player in IICC, Kehinde Joyfious, who will always look for an excuse not to play whenever my team faced his. They said I was crazy man.  

 I was called the Bulldozer, Idi Amin.

SPN: Did you ever injure anyone intentionally?

FM: No, no, no…..I will never do a thing like that.

SPN: Your early experiences in the North, did that help to shape your vision of Nigeria and it’s Football?

FM: It definitely did. I was able to see Nigeria form both sides of the Niger.

SPN: Why was Insurance so strong under coach Alabi Aissien?

FM: Alabi was a great coach who knew his onions and picked his killer squad meticulously.

He gave us the confidence to deliver plus we were hungry for glory.

SPN: Ok, let’s ask you some quick fire questions.Who was the best footballer you ever faced?

FM: Manga Ougene of Cannon Sportiff. He was big and strong and scored goal. He was your ideal striker!

SPN: Most difficult game you were ever involved in?

FM: The Quarter finals of the 1979 Cup Winners Cup against Sotema of Madagascar in Lagos. We were at the verge of losing to a team we beat easily at their place two weeks earlier. It was difficult and scary experience.

SPN: Best memory in football?

FM: I am glad I fulfilled my dream of playing soccer to the top in my country and be alive to enjoy it.

SPN: Worst memory in football?

FM: Bendel Insurance not winning the Cup Winners Cup in 1979. We tied 0-0 in Benin with Cannon and they won the Cup. That was the final before the finals anybody who won that match was already Champion. We lost by a lone goal in Yaoundé.

In fact I proceeded to Lagos the next day to process my Visa to go to school.

SPN: Worst memory in football?

FM:  On the field as a player who took the game seriously always want to be a winner

SPN: Thank you for your time.

FM:  You are welcome.