Former Super Eagles defender, Dele Adeleye, shares his experience playing for Nigeria at youth levels as well as winning silver at the Beijing Olympics in this interview with JOHNNY EDWARD
Since you left active football, what have you been up to?
I have been spending more time with my family now and helping scout and develop emerging talent in Oyo State. I help an academy here in Ibadan groom their players in the art of football.
So what has the transition been like since you stopped playing football?
I’ve been adapting to it. Starting my day training without games to look forward to at the weekend is strange for me except when I’m invited to novelty games. But I’m enjoying it though.
Some of your former teammates are now coaches, football agents and learning the expertise of becoming an administrator. What’s your plan for life after football?
Well, I’m in the process of becoming a coach but it’s a step at a time. I have plans to do other things as well but my family comes first now and I’m happy to share more valuable times with them.
How did your career start?
I was born in Ibadan but spent part of my early life in Lagos. I joined Taribo West’s defunct football academy, Tamuno Inaemi Nationale, where they developed my skills in playing football. From there, I played for Shooting Stars before I was called up to the Flying Eagles team where I was eventually selected to play for the country at the U-20 World Cup in Holland. We finished runner-up losing to Argentina 2-1 in the final.
My performance at the U-20 World Cup earned me a move to Sparta Rotterdam and thereafter, I played for Metallurg Donestk FC Tavriya, Kuban Krassnodar, Anzhi Makhachkala, Ergotelis and OFI Crete in Greece before moving to FC Aktobe in Kazakhstan. My last club in Europe was SKA Khabarovsk in Russia. I also played for the U-23 team and the Super Eagles.
You made four appearances at the U-20 tournament in Holland, starting the game against Brazil and you were dropped for the remaining two group games. What happened?
Only the coach (Samson Siasia) can answer why I was dropped after the first game against Brazil and missed the remaining two games but I returned for the knockout stages and played through to the final.
Can you talk us through that tournament?
We had a great chance to win that tournament but unfortunately, we fought against so many odds that denied us that victory. It was Nigeria against not just Argentina but everyone. We gave our best to win it for the first time ever because we believed. Our coach even told us that it was now or never for Nigeria to win the U-20 World Cup having come close in the past.
But in that final game, as a team we gave everything but Lionel Messi edged it for them (Argentina). The only consolatory moment for us at that tournament was that Mikel Obi and Taye Taiwo won the silver and bronze balls. We aimed for the title but finished runner-up.
Three years later you were facing a more mature Messi in the finals of the men’s football event in Beijing, China. Was that defeat more painful than the one in Holland?
I can’t even tell you which final defeat was more painful. Both final defeats were horrible, Messi just denied me two titles like that.
Which game was your toughest at the U-20 World Cup?
All the games were tough, even watching Nigeria play South Korea and Switzerland from the bench was tough. Do you know how many Nigerian hearts were beating abnormally during those games? The game against Holland was the toughest, as the final was also tough but playing against Messi was very tough.
You conceded a penalty in the final of the 2005 U-20 World Cup, did that make you feel you denied Nigeria a title chance?
We will always have different views on that. I was alleged to have made contact with him but I don’t think it was that bad for him to fly like that. He is a great player and I’m proud to say that I’m one of the defenders that gave him a hell of a time on the pitch.
Who was your idol growing up?
Taibo West. He was very strong and reliable. I learnt a lot from him while I was at his academy. Marcel Desaily, Alessandro Nesta and Fabio Cannavaro are other defenders I also look up to.
What is the secret behind the folding of jersey’s arms?
It simply meant I was ready for the business of the day. I saw playing football as a dedicated job to deliver because we were paid for it which was like leisure for me so I took it as a job on its own.
You didn’t play as many games for the Eagles as many expected, what happened?
The coach happened. It was the coach’s decision but I featured in some games which will always be memorable to me. I was selected for the 2010 AFCON and the World Cup that year even if I didn’t play but I played a part in the team’s qualification for those tournaments.
Did you enjoy your time playing for the Eagles?
Laughs… Yes, I did. I had a great start to my career with the Eagles playing against Ireland and France and some qualifying games but I wished I played more games for the national team. No regrets though because it has always been a lifetime dream emulating Taribo West. He is my idol.
The Eagles face a daunting task qualifying for the World Cup in 2026 and from the group stage of the delayed 2023 African Cup of Nations. What do you make of their chances?
We have a great chance. First, we need to qualify from the AFCON group. We just need to take our games seriously and avoid defeat. For the World Cup, we must avoid slips or defeat away from home during the qualifiers. I believe we will qualify for the World Cup but the Eagles must be careful of any slip-ups.
What’s your biggest regret in football?
My biggest regret was that I didn’t play in the Premier League. I had concrete offers from Everton and Southampton but it fell through because of transfer agreements from both clubs.
