Ikpeba, Oguntuase, Sabara’s Strange, Magic Wing Combo

BY IKENWA ASHIBUOGWU NNABUOGOR

Coach Sebastian Broderick-Imasuen invaded Scotland with the most confusing tactical wing philosophy only patented to him.

The juvenile actors he used to achieve this piece of tactical artistry were his wingers Victor Ikpeba and Jide Oguntuase.

Sabara had begun this act with these young wingers in the African qualifiers and left a devastating trail that opponents had no trace to.

Victor Ikpeba and Jide Oguntuase left opponents in stitches and before they knew it, Eaglets flew happily to Scotland.

Sabara refused to change his strategy rather he blew fresh lives in the feet of Ikpeba and Oguntuase to take his philosophy on a global scale.

What was it with the wing combo with Ikpeba and Oguntuase that Sabara preached on in Scotland?

Oguntuase was stationed on the right while Ikpeba was the left wing “activist” on the left. It was the same roles they held down in the qualifiers but with very deceptive false strategies attached with it that left opponents confused.

Licenses were issued to them to switch roles at ease, at exigencies, at critical points and of course, at will. This they did with lightning speed as Eaglets attacked leaving the opponents confused of which of them that urgently needed to be stopped.

Oguntuase was right legged and possessed a poor left foot while Ikpeba was immaculately, deceptively blessed both footed. There lies the magic wand Sabara waved with this strange, confusing approach.

Both were great scorers, while Oguntuase’s winds blew with his quick right foot, Ikpeba tsunamied with both feet. The errands they sent goalkeepers to retrieve the balls were frequent, tiring and mind-blowing.

What was Oguntuase doing on Ikpeba’s traditional left wing as he possessed a poor left foot? That was one of the puzzles of Sabara’s strange wing tactical that opponents seemed to have no answers to.

That was a decoy as Oguntuase effectively carried out his details to draw a huge false attention to him while he needed a Sunny Umoru, Kayode Keshinro or even himself to thread a pass to free, unmarked Ikpeba “holidaying” on his right wing to make hay.

Great tormentors both were, their quick feet producing dribbles, wit, quick running Sabara designed to tire out or confuse opponents, were redirected into the net by either Keshinro, Patrick Mancha or Aondofa Akosu.

Ikpeba was super important to Sabara’s philosophy – skilful, both footed, quick-heeled, versatile and very good scorer.

Though, Keshinro was his point man, Ikpeba and of course, Oguntuase were equally great scorers and shared many of the Eaglets’ booties among themselves.

Sabara was planning to unleash his joker – Benedict Akwuegbu – to finish off his opponents but unfortunately Saudi Arabia read him and stopped him in the quarters.

“Schoolboy International” Akwuegbu, lavishly skillful, bullish, possessed mad penchant for goals but the Saudis put paid to his and Sabara’s dreams.

Sabara had won the inaugural title earlier in 1985 and lost in the final two years after and re-writing his own history in Scotland remained his unfulfilled promise.

His Scotland’89 squad has been hailed in all quarters as his and the country’s best team put together since Sabara won the maiden edition in China in 1985.

While Ikpeba, true to Pele’s prediction went on to crack it with the European clubs and the Super Eagles, Oguntuase failed to take his potential to his desired heights.

The Ikpeba-Oguntuase combo will remain a huge reference for many years to come. Though the grey side of it is that it didn’t yield the World Cup title for the all-conquering team.

The FIFA sledge hammer kept Sabara away from the edition in Italy in 1991. Ghana won the title to become the second African country after Nigeria to win it.

Sabara came back in the scene again in 1995 in Ecuador after Fanny Amun had invaded Japan to win the title for the second time for Nigeria but was cut short in the quarters.

The legendary Benin tactician’s time with the boys was up but his legacies will not be forgotten forever.