The 1994 World Cup felt like a world away. Nigeria had left the USA as heroes, with neutral adoration from all over the globe. Now they were back in the States – but the excitement around the Super Eagles had all but vanished.
It was the 1996 Olympic group stage and like so many defences to come, Nigeria had no idea how to deal with Ronaldo. He'd just drift. From the left wing to the right, back to the centre. Do you follow? Leave him? It was barely the performance of a striker: he was playing three roles, swinging across the frontline like a pendulum. Or was that… Ronaldinho?
