Former
Super Eagles goalkeeper, Abiodun Baruwa has disclosed that playing at the 1998
FIFA World Cup was the high point of his football career.
Fondly
known as ‘Omo Alhaja’, Baruwa was a stand-in player for the Dream Team at the
1996 Summer Olympics when Nigeria won the gold medal. He was also at the goal
post for Shooting Stars when they lost to Zamalek in the final of the 1996
African Cup of Champions clubs via penalties.
Despite
not playing a game in France 98′ World Cup, he told Soccernet.com.ng in an
exclusive chat from his base in London that being part of the 1998
World Cup party under Bora Milutinovic was his greatest moment as a player.
“Definitely!
Mind you, it is the dream of every footballers to represent their country at
the World Cup and I see no reason why I should not be grateful for being part of the
party. Though I never kept any game but to
be listed for the showpiece was once in a lifetime experience for me,”
Baruwa told Soccernet.com.ng.
“Again,
I remembered when we played Guinean team for the World Cup Qualifier in Lagos
main Bowl and another one was the day we qualify for World Cup in France where
we played Kenya in Lagos Main Bowl. All this games are so still fresh in my
memory.”