Everything about Emmanuel Amunike’s football career seems to be streamed in the combined hard product of magic and mystery. Even his name was mysteriously changed from Amuneke to Amunike.
The first mystery was his explicit exploits with Julius Berger of Lagos in the Premier League in 1991.Both Amunike and Berger were not given any serious attention. The combination of Amunike and Tarila Okoronwata were not just magical but absolutely sensational. In fact, both players wrecked and humiliated the then defending champions Iwuanyawnu Nationale before their ever vociferous fans and supporters in Owerri in 1991! In the end, Amunike’s strikes contributed to Berger’s league success and glory in 1991.
From there onwards, Amunike metamorphosed to a monster of a sort. He became the resurrected Muda Lawal. That is, when he scored, no other teammates could ever hit target!!! That was why his two goals shocked Zambia on the final day of Tunisia ’94 Nations Cup Finals – no other Nigerian player scored, not even Rashidi Yekini.
Amunike’s scoring mystery reared it ugly head in the USA ’94 World Cup Finals where he hit home a beautiful glancing header against Bulgaria and Nigeria won 3-0: no other Nigerian could register another goal.
That was why after his strike against Italy in the second round in USA ’94, those who knew Amunike prayed for him to make it two – because no other Nigerian player would ever score as he had found the net. Sadly, Amunike never scored following his substitution due to injury and Nigeria lost 2-1.
On November 10, 1995, Nigeria and Uzbekistan played an Afro – Asia Tourney in Lagos. Amunike’s lone goal ensured Super Eagles victory as Nigera had beaten Uzbekistan 2- 3 in the first leg.
On April 27, 1997, in a France ’98 World Cup qualifier against Burkina Faso in Ouagadougou, Amunike got the winner for Nigeria, 1-2.
The only recorded time Amunike’s goal was never the last for Nigeria was in the World Cup qualifier against Kenya in Lagos where Sunday Oliseh opened scoring, Amunike made it two while Wilson Oruma still got the goal number three to book France ticket for Nigeria. In all, he scored eight goals in 29 games.
In the Atlanta ’96 Olympic soccer final between Nigeria and Argentina, Amunike, again, came into the magic and mystery lens. He scored the third goal and it was the last goal by the Dream Team 1 and Nigeria struck soccer gold, beating Argentina 3-2.
It must be proclaimed here that Amunike’s super strike gave his side Sporting Lisbon the winner in a derby against their arch rivals, Benfica and consequeny lifted the Portuguese Cup.
And on two consecutive occasions, the Egyptians stood in awe following Amunike’s brilliant hat – tricks for Zamalek in the 1992/93 season. Recall that the then Nigerian winger was bedecked in CAF Champions League gold medal in the colours of Zamalek even as he equally savoured both the CAF Super Cup as well as the Egyptian Cup with Zamalek.
Indeed Amunike was a football magician whose shelf is stuffed with an avalanche of wares. He is one of the most decorated Nigerian and African players in history.
This is the feat Heartland fans want Amunike to re – enact as he guides the five times Nigerian champions in the next football season. The fans want to see a Heartland that are formidable at home and gallant in away games. The Imo football fans don’t want to behold the lacklustre performance of the four previous seasons where their darling team was a beautiful sore and a shadow of itself former self.