Pius Ikedia vs Australia (September 2000)

Ikedia's goal broke the deadlock when Nigeria beat Australia 3-2 back in September 2000.
Pius Nelson Ikedia (born 11 July 1980) is a Nigerian retired professional footballer who played as a winger. While still a teenager, Ikedia scored many goals along with Julius Aghahowa at Nigerian club Bendel Insurance. He played professional football for one year in Ivory Coast before he was discovered by Dutch giants Ajax. After three seasons with Ajax he was loaned out to various Dutch clubs before finally signing a permanent deal with AZ in 2005. In the 2006-07 season he was out on loan to RKC Waalwijk but failed to make an impact and was subsequently released by AZ. He returned to RBC Roosendaal, whom he had been loaned out to while at Ajax, after a trial with the Chicago Fire, after which he would go on to play for Metalurh Donetsk in Ukraine in 2007. Between 2008 and 2010, he once again played for RBC in the Netherlands. After spells in Azerbaijan and Cyprus with AZAL and Mağusa Türk Gücü, respectively, Ikedia returned to the Netherlands to play for amateur side OFC Oostzaan in 2014. He retired in 2016.

[@gidivibes]

He is the definition of explosive. No one should be that quick.

[@sundayogundeji9654]

He was a good player. I watched him against Zimbabwe during the 1999 Olympic qualifier in Lagos.He drilled and dribbled to get Nigeria qualified for the Sydney Olympics.

[@kayvaldo]

I remember that match, he was quite outstanding. I wish that match was available online.

[@sundayogundeji9654]

Do you also remember against Namibia in Windhoek,the scored a fantastic goal though Nigeria was beaten 3-2.That was in the African Olympic qualifier in 1999.

[@francisazuka8921]

This guy, PIUS is so underrated,. so much skill, speed and talent!

[@dorrtay]

Pius Okada Ikedia. I admired him so much because we shared a similar game style. I was even nicknamed Ikedia. Unfortunately, I didn't make it to the top flight like he did.

[@bigrich4116]

You was not good enough lol

[@dorrtay]

@@bigrich4116, probably. But not everyone is lucky in the part of world I come from. You may be good but undiscovered. A lot of talents has wasted as a result of this.

[@judybash9393]

We used to call him Okada man! Respect

[@hilary3397]

I watched this game 23 years ago. Sydney 2000, ikedia tormented them and ran them ragged that night😂😂

[@videomakville]

After the goal, the dribbles started to come off. Confidence can be so underated in sports

[@mikeANDZA]

The Nigeria national team then played some brilliant football. Same style of play can still be profitable in modern football.

[@chikaokeke2422]

He had Pausa, skill and speed. Imagine what Ikedia would have been if his talents were well harnessed.

[@thecharteredmc]

So sad....he's talents were never harnessed

[@tripleocful]

Ikedia was fasssssst, , missed that guy

[@yahoo1o1]

Ikedia was so talented. It's a shame his potential wasn't realised. I saw a game he had for Ajax where he totally destroyed the opposition but for some reason Ajax just never fancied his style of play

[@kayvaldo]

I watched a game from his second or third season and he looked so repressed like he was told not to take on opposition as much as he wanted, always cutting back to make the simple pass. Maybe his success rate wasn't high enough for them to give him that freedom.

[@abeyjohnny1934]

Pius ikadia styl of play is so so Perfect for English Premiership ..He shuld have gone to Premiership from Ajax......bad managent and bad agents and bad decisions cost him half of his carer at his very prime.Too sad too bad too hard.

[@godstimegodstime9959]

He was simple amazing

[@prime6253]

Look at how nimble and agile these guys were. Present-day super eagles are so stiff they turn like long-haul trucks. It's like watching bodybuilders playing football.

[@kayvaldo]

😅🤣

[@charleschukwudi4777]

😀😃🤣

[@muyideensanusiallaboutduba9109]

There is usually a unique speed peculiar to short people and if such player posses a technical skills.

[@donkellystarboy2308]

That guy s too much we use to cal him okada he s a strong guy

[@danielpatani7458]

He reminds me of vinicius

[@smartuwaje955]

Called the grass cutter

[@user-nx4kx7gd4x]

if you know fall down come show your jersey, this guy will never cross ball..kkkkk

[@kayvaldo]

😅🤣

[@akossholali8988]

The main photoshoot please

[@akossholali8988]

Ikedia more really photos shoot

[@konavmuin2705]

He was quick and could dribble too. Ahmed Musa has that pace but can not dribble as good as Ikedia .

[@hapexconsulting3789]

He was unfairly treated, not given enough chances in the Super Eagles.

[@swain4971]

Would have played him from the opposite flank

[@Augastine1]

Man was moving like it’s a football trial …justify ur inclusion

[@kayvaldo]

😅

[@martinsibe9168]

He had explosive pace, but his stature is limited. In tight positions, he can be easily displaced. In today football, physicality is very important

[@chukwuemekaihedioha5837]

No, he's not a lightweight player, rather, he's stout and strong like Okocha, Aguero, Maradona, Messi, Tevez, Rooney and the likes of them with that height.

[@chukwuemekaihedioha5837]

@biancafedrico9545 yeah

[@ninobrownish]

Then you never watched Gavi, Kante, Bernardo Silva etc...

[@martinsibe9168]

@ninobrownish I am referring to wingers, though. Silva is more of an inverted winger. However, I am already rethinking my position. Every good player has a way of adjusting his or her own weakness

[@vituskademyinc.2896]

Ikedia was the definition of speed without full control. At his best, he was a handful for the opposition's left-backs.

[@johnobakponovwe866]

aka ball on a bika