Ex-Super Eagles defender, Ben Iroha, clocked 47 on Tuesday.
The former Watford man is arguably one of the best left-backs to have worn the colours of Nigeria.
Happy birthday former @NGSuperEagles defence trojan, Benedict Iroha. Thank you for the memories. #HappyBirthdayIroha pic.twitter.com/7dL70tgIWZ
— The NFF (@thenff) November 29, 2016
To mark the birthday of this iconic ex-international, we highlight four fond memories Nigerians still have about him.
- 50 caps for Nigeria
Ben Iroha featured 50 times for the Super Eagles between 1990 and 1998. He was an indispensable member of the team that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1994 and played at two FIFA World Cups.
- Nomadic club career
Iroha’s success with the national team counted for nothing in his club career. The defender had an extremely wandering career which took him to Bendel Insurance and Heartland in Nigeria to ASEC Mimosas in Cote d’Ivoire. This was followed by unsuccessful spells at Vitesse Arnhem (Netherland), San Jose Earthquakes and D.C United (USA), Elche CF (Spain) and Watford (England).
- Transition from midfield to defence
Ben Iroha was successfully transformed from a midfielder to defender by former Eagles coach, Clemens Westerhorf, thanks to his versatility. This was done prior to the AFCON and World Cup tourneys in 1994.
- Retirement at 31
Iroha was forced to abruptly quit football due to a deformity of the joint connecting the big toe to the foot known as bunion. This happened in 2000 when the defender was just 31.
