The heroes of the 1976 Olympics Games and members of the 1980 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) National Team, also known as the Green Eagles, were honored with great emotion as they were appointed as Air Peace Sports Diplomacy Ambassadors.
The investiture, held at Eko Hotel in Lagos, was preceded by the unveiling of the newly created Nigerian Institute of International Affairs Sports Diplomacy Wall of Fame with the names of the athletes and players boldly inscribed.
Chief Allen Onyema, the Chairman of Air Peace, hosted the event to honor the Nigerian football legends who bravely boycotted the 1976 Montreal Olympics in Canada to protest the apartheid regime in South Africa.
The Green Eagles players, who had brought pride to the nation by defeating Algeria 3-0 and lifting the 1980 AFCON Cup, were also honored during the event.
Some of the then Olympics Games Heroes and members of the AFCON 1980 National Team were at the event, while those who are late among them were represented by their family members.
Chief Allen Onyema, the driving force behind this acknowledgment, emphasized that these athletes had chosen their nation over their interests, showing true dedication and patriotism.
Air Peace believes that the sacrifices made by these individuals must not go unnoticed. The Chairman expressed his view that Nigeria should adopt a culture of celebrating and honoring those who have sacrificed for the country, stressing that these athletes were doing the nation a favor by prioritizing their commitment to the wellbeing of not just the black race but all of humanity.
The honorees themselves were deeply moved by the gesture, considering it unprecedented and unexpected. Segun Odegbami, popularly known as Mathematical Odegbami, who scored two goals during the AFCON Finals in 1980, alongside Mudashir Lawal (late), who netted the third goal, expressed their gratitude and admiration for the initiative led by the Air Peace Chairman.
