As tributes continue to pour in following the burial of former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in his hometown of Daura, one of Nigeria’s football heroes, Slaisu Nakande, has shared an emotional reflection on his historic encounters with the late leader.
Nakande, a member of the legendary Golden Eaglets squad that clinched the inaugural FIFA U-16 World Cup in China in 1985, recalled two unforgettable meetings with Buhari—first in 1985 when Buhari, then Nigeria’s military Head of State, received the victorious team, and later in 2016 when he, as President, fulfilled the promises he had made to them decades earlier.
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“It’s really amazing to have met President Buhari again after more than 30 years,” Nakande told Sports247.
“He kept to his words and even admitted that he knew we could be forgotten. But meeting him again was not just a reunion; it was a historic moment we will never forget. May his soul rest in Aljanna Firdausi, Amen.”
Reflecting on the 1985 triumph, Nakande described it as a dream come true. “Our target was just to reach the semi-finals so we could get the free shopping trip in Hong Kong promised by FIFA. But God gave us more—we emerged as the first-ever champions of the tournament.”
The Golden Eaglets’ return to Nigeria was met with a hero’s welcome, an event Nakande described as “unmatched in Nigerian sporting history.”
Now serving as the Assistant General Manager of Mighty Jets International FC in Jos, Nakande has continued to contribute to the game that brought him global acclaim.
A former right winger, he transitioned into coaching and football administration following his playing career.
“I attended the National Institute for Sports (NIS) in 2008 for basic football coaching and obtained my CAF C License in Abuja in 2014,” he said. “I’ve also served as a Match Commissioner in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) for nearly 18 years.”
Today, Nakande remains a dedicated figure in Nigerian football, committed to nurturing the next generation of talents with the same passion that fueled his rise to glory in 1985
