Meet The 1983 Flying Eagles: Part 10 — Meet Segun Olukanni (Gerd Müller)

𝗕𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝘂𝗹 𝗟𝘂𝗰𝗸𝘆 𝗢𝗸𝗼𝗸𝘂

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗢𝗔𝗟 𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗪𝗛𝗢𝗦𝗘 𝗘𝗫𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗥𝗬 𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗕𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗗

Some football memories bring a smile. Others return with an emotion that forty-four years cannot erase.

Whenever I remember Segun Olukanni, I remember both.

I remember the extraordinary striker who could rise above defenders, seemingly suspend himself in the air, and direct a header as though he had already decided where the goalkeeper would be standing.

I also remember the afternoon he lay injured on the grass of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟯, 𝟭𝟵𝟴𝟮.

Nigeria was playing Zimbabwe in a World Youth Championship qualifying match.

For one of the most naturally gifted strikers of our generation, that afternoon became an unexpected turning point in a promising football career.

But to appreciate Segun’s story, we must begin long before that unforgettable day.

𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗙𝗢𝗢𝗧𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣 𝗕𝗘𝗚𝗔𝗡 𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗚 𝗕𝗘𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗟𝗬𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗘𝗔𝗚𝗟𝗘𝗦

Segun and I had known each other since approximately 1972.

We belonged to a generation of Lagos schoolboys whose football education began in neighbourhoods, open fields and local clubs.

At Olaleye Boys’ Club, I played alongside youngsters including Eugene Odiye, Amechi Nwogu, Mathew Akeite and Sunday Tashie.

Segun was part of that football family.

The Olukanni brothers, Segun and Femi, lived within the same wider neighbourhood as I did, as did our friend Stephen Keshi.

We grew up competing, laughing and learning one another’s strengths long before anybody imagined that our journeys would lead to Nigeria’s national teams.

Segun was already special.

He possessed the instincts of a natural goalscorer, but what impressed me most was his exceptional coordination and command of the football.

He could control it with different parts of his body, manoeuvre through crowded spaces and turn difficult situations into scoring opportunities.

𝗪𝗛𝗬 𝗪𝗘 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗗 𝗛𝗜𝗠 𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗗 𝗠Ü𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗥

Our nickname for Segun came from the legendary West German striker Gerd Müller.

Müller, who became famous with Bayern Munich and West Germany, was renowned for his finishing, anticipation and ability to score from seemingly impossible positions.

Segun possessed that extraordinary goalscoring instinct.

He could outjump opponents who appeared taller or physically stronger.

I remember how he attacked an aerial ball. He seemed capable of remaining suspended above the defenders for an extra moment, almost as though he had enough time to ask the goalkeeper which corner he preferred.

And when Segun advanced with the ball, opposing defenders often found themselves retreating.

His physical strength was matched by remarkable technical ability.

Those who watched the late Thompson Usiyen play will understand the kind of attacking intelligence and exquisite ball control I am describing.

Segun belonged to that rare class of footballers.

𝗛𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀.

𝗛𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝟭𝟵𝟴𝟮 𝗚𝗢𝗔𝗟 𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣 𝗪𝗘 𝗕𝗨𝗜𝗟𝗧

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝟭𝟵𝟴𝟮 𝗚𝗢𝗔𝗟 𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣 𝗪𝗘 𝗕𝗨𝗜𝗟𝗧

In 1982, 𝗦𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗻 𝗢𝗹𝘂𝗸𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗴𝗼𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘂𝗿 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲, earning the distinction of Goal King for that season.

I was fortunate to receive the Best Midfielder award that same year.

In August 2026, Segun, Femi and I reminisced about those memorable days, including the awards ceremony that recognized our individual achievements.

Yet those honours mattered less to us than the understanding we had developed through years of playing together.

I knew his movements.

I understood when he wanted the ball played into space, when he preferred it at his feet, and when he was preparing to attack an aerial delivery.

Segun did not always need to call for the ball.

Often, I knew where he would be before he arrived.

That understanding had developed through countless training sessions, neighbourhood matches and shared football experiences.

𝗜𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲.

𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗙𝗟𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗞 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗦 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗗

Segun’s football journey took him through Flour Mills Football Club, YSFON, National Bank of Lagos and Leventis United of Ibadan.

At Flour Mills, he benefited from a close relationship with a coach who treated him almost as a son. That fatherly guidance played an important role in his early development.

Segun, his younger brother Femi and I subsequently shared the football field at several levels, including National Bank, YSFON, Lagos State and the Flying Eagles.

In 1982, our National Bank side achieved a remarkable feat by winning the prestigious 𝗢𝗯𝗮 𝗖𝘂𝗽, defeating NEPA in the semifinal and Stationery Stores in the final.

To appreciate the significance of that achievement, one must understand the Lagos football landscape of the time.

𝗡𝗘𝗣𝗔 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝗴𝗼𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗿𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆’𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲.

For National Bank to overcome both clubs on the way to lifting the trophy was a significant statement about the quality and determination of our young team.

That same year, we also reached the final of the 𝗟𝗮𝗴𝗼𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗖𝘂𝗽, where we finished runners-up after losing to African Continental Bank (ACB).

Although we did not win that final, reaching two major cup finals in one season demonstrated the strength and consistency of our side.

Segun was part of a generation of talented footballers who helped National Bank compete with established clubs and earn its place among the formidable teams of Lagos football.

We also competed against established Nigerian football powers, including IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan, whose stars included Segun Odegbami, Felix Owolabi, Best Ogedegbe, Orlando John and Mudashiru Lawal.

Those encounters tested our abilities against some of the country’s finest footballers.

Leventis United would also become part of Segun’s football journey and another important chapter connecting members of our Flying Eagles generation.

His accomplishments across those clubs deserve recognition alongside his exceptional performances at youth level.

Yet it was in Nigeria’s national colours that we experienced one of the most difficult moments of our friendship.

𝗢𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝟮𝟯, 𝟭𝟵𝟴𝟮: 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗗

Nigeria faced Zimbabwe in the first leg of our FIFA World Youth Championship qualifying encounter at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

We were pursuing a dream that had eluded Nigerian football for years: qualification for a FIFA World Cup tournament.

We had prepared intensely under our late coach, Christopher Udemezue, and Segun was central to our attacking ambitions.

Then, during the second half, an unfortunate incident changed the course of his campaign.

𝗦𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗸𝗻𝗲𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗷𝘂𝗿𝘆.

I can still remember the sight of our Goal King lying on the grass.

For those of us who had grown up alongside him, it was deeply upsetting. This was not merely a teammate being injured, but a childhood friend whose football journey had become intertwined with our own lives.

Nigeria went on to win the match 3–1. 𝗜 𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗰𝗸.

At the time, none of us could have known just how important that third goal would become.

When we travelled to Bulawayo for the return leg on November 7, 1982, Zimbabwe defeated us 1–0.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝗴𝗼𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹, 𝗮𝘀 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝟯–𝟮 𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗴𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲.

It was a reminder that every contribution matters in football, sometimes in ways we only appreciate later.

Yet beyond the significance of that victory, our thoughts remained with Segun. We knew how much representing Nigeria meant to him, and we hoped that his recovery would allow him to continue the journey with us.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗛𝗢𝗣𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗔 𝗥𝗘𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗡 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗬

The Nigerian Football Association arranged for Segun to travel to Italy for treatment and rehabilitation.

We remained hopeful that he would recover and return to the team.

Our qualifying campaign was not over. We still had the return match against Zimbabwe, and if we advanced, another difficult encounter against Guinea awaited us.

On November 7, 1982, Zimbabwe defeated Nigeria 1–0 in the return leg, but our 3–1 victory in Lagos carried us through 3–2 on aggregate.

We subsequently faced Guinea.

After losing 2–1 away on December 19, 1982, we returned to Lagos and won 2–0 on January 8, 1983, securing the qualification that made us Nigeria’s first representatives at a FIFA World Cup tournament.

Throughout those months, we continued hoping Segun would recover sufficiently to rejoin us.

We awaited news from Italy, encouraged by the possibility that he might return in time for Mexico.

But rehabilitation was taking longer than we had hoped.

When Segun eventually returned, it was clear that overcoming such an injury would require time, determination and considerable patience.

The injury had affected the extraordinary physical qualities that had made him such a formidable striker.

For me, it remains one of the most emotional chapters of our journey to Mexico.

Yet Segun’s importance to that historic team was never diminished by his absence from the final tournament.

𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗢𝗟𝗨𝗞𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗜 𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗦: 𝗙𝗢𝗢𝗧𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗟, 𝗙𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗬 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗘𝗗𝗨𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡

Segun’s younger brother, Femi Olukanni, shared our football journey and became another important member of our historic Flying Eagles generation.

Both brothers placed considerable importance on education alongside their football ambitions.

Their educational journeys began at Ijero Baptist Primary School in Ebute Metta West, Lagos, before they followed different paths through secondary education.

Segun attended Lagos City College (LCC), where he completed his secondary education before proceeding to CMS Grammar School for his Higher School Certificate (HSC).

Femi attended Remo Divisional School before transferring to CMS Grammar School to continue his secondary education.

Although both brothers attended CMS Grammar School, they were pursuing different academic levels: Segun was studying for his HSC, while Femi was completing his secondary education.

Their commitment to education continued beyond Nigeria.

𝗦𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗻 𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗔𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗺𝗮 𝗔&𝗠 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲.

Femi also distinguished himself academically and in American collegiate football, eventually earning a doctorate in Educational Leadership in 2005.

Their accomplishments demonstrate that footballing excellence and academic achievement can go hand in hand.

Our friendship has endured long after our playing days.

In April and August 2026, I had the joy of reconnecting with Segun and Femi during family celebrations in California and Atlanta, including a birthday celebration for Femi’s wife, Fola, and a graduation ceremony.

Those reunions gave us opportunities to reminisce about our football experiences, the friendships we developed and the memories that have remained with us for more than four decades.

We were no longer the young boys who once chased footballs across the neighbourhood fields of Lagos.

𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘄𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝘂𝘀.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗢𝗔𝗟 𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗪𝗘 𝗡𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗚𝗢𝗧

When Nigerians remember our historic 1983 Flying Eagles, they understandably celebrate the players who eventually represented the country in Mexico.

But history must also recognize those whose contributions helped carry us toward qualification, even when circumstances prevented them from completing the journey as they had hoped.

Segun Olukanni belongs proudly in that history.

He was a footballer of exceptional ability, a natural goalscorer and a teammate whose skills brought joy to those privileged to play alongside him.

His injury was an unfortunate chapter, but it should never define the entirety of his football journey.

I remember the magnificent headers.

I remember his remarkable ball control.

I remember knowing exactly where to place the ball for him.

And I remember the laughter, friendship and extraordinary understanding we developed over the years.

Football gave us unforgettable victories, enduring friendships and lessons that extended far beyond the playing field.

𝗪𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗰𝗼, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆.

Segun, your contributions to our historic journey remain part of Nigerian football’s proud heritage.

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲.

𝗣𝗮𝘂𝗹 𝗟𝘂𝗰𝗸𝘆 𝗢𝗸𝗼𝗸𝘂

FIFA Legend | Former Nigeria Flying Eagles Vice-Captain | Former Super Eagles International | AFCON Silver Medalist | Football Historian | Football Analyst | Investigative Football Writer | Journalist-at-Large | Founder & CEO, Greater Tomorrow Children’s Fund (GTCF)

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀:

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𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲. 𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿.