Mutiu Adepoju: Ex-Nigeria and Real Madrid star conferred with chieftaincy title

 The Super Eagles great has been recognized for his laudable contributions to sports.

 

La Liga ambassador Mutiu Adepoju has been conferred with a traditional chieftaincy title by the Ooni of Ife.

In a luxury event held on Friday in Ile-Ife, His Imperial Eminence and Adimula of Yorubaland, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, installed the former Nigeria and Real Madrid midfielder as the Asoju Amuludun Oodua.

 

This honorary chieftaincy title is in recognition of his exploits in the beautiful game. The talented and versatile operator represented Nigeria senior national team for 12 years after making his debut in 1990.

“I count it a big honour getting recognized by one of the greatest monarchs in the world, the Adimula of Yorubaland,” Adepoju, who was in company of his beautiful wife Bimpe, told Soccernet.ng.

“This means a lot to me and my family and all I can only promised that I will not be found wanting in fulfilling the obligations that accompanies title.”

Before making his Super Eagles bow against Togo in August 1990, ‘Headmaster’ had represented the country at youth level.

His three-goal feat at the FIFA U20 World Cup held in Saudi Arabia helped the Flying Eagles finish as runners-up at the global football showpiece.

Two of those efforts came against the United States of America in the semi-final inside Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium.

At senior level, he was part of the Nigeria squad that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia. Also, he was part of the squads for the FIFA World Cups in 1994, 1998 – where he notably scored a beauty in the 3–2 triumph over Spain – and 2002, although he did not play in the latter tournament.

After an impressive professional career that saw him play in Spain, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Cyprus, Adepoju announced his retirement from all forms of football in 2006.