Samson Siasia is a household name in Nigerian football, having represented the country both as player and coach.
The 48-year-old started his playing career in 1982 with local side, Julius Berger, and had a successful 11-year stint with the Super Eagles with 13 goals to his name.
Outside Nigeria, he played for clubs in France, Belgium, Australia, Portugal and Saudi Arabia.
His impressive transition to the coaching world has seen him handle different cadres of Nigerian football, with U-17 the only exception.
Here are five of the biggest achievements of the standout footbbaler/manager for whom the 5000-seater Yenagoa Township Stadium in Bayelsa was renamed in 2009.
- African Cup of Nations winner (1994)
Samson Siasia was part of the Eagles squad that dominated African football in the 90s – winning the African Cup of Nations in 1994.
Nigeria defeated Zambia 2-1 in Tunisia to clinch her second African crown in grand style.
The team, referred to as one of the most exciting and thrilling teams ever, won bronze two years earlier and produced an outstanding performance at the 1994 World Cup.
- French Ligue 1 champion (1994/95)
Fresh from winning the 1994 AFCON in Tunisia, Siasia became champion again, this time at his French club, FC Nantes.
The powerful forward made over 40 appearances for the Ligue 1 outfit scoring four times, before joining Portuguese side, Tirsense, the season after.
- Runner-up FIFA U-20 World Cup (2005)
As coach, Siasia guided the Nigerian U-20 team to a second-place finish at the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Holland.
The Flying Eagles lost by a narrow 2-1 margin to Argentina in the final to settle for silver at the tournament.
That was preceded by a triumph at the African Youth Championship same year in Benin Republic, beating Egypt 2-0.
- Olympic silver (Beijing 2008)
Three years after wining silver at the youth level, Siasia led the national U-23 team to another silver medal, at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.
The Dream Team IV lost again to the Albiceleste through an Angel Di Maria cool finish.
Siasia oversaw the team through the qualification phase up to the Olympic game proper.
- Qualification for Rio Olympics (2015)
Nigeria Dream Team VI against all odds have qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics after beating Senegal 1-0 at the 2015 CAF AFCON.
Despite several setbacks in the form of poor funding, family issues and unavailability of key players , the coach once again showed his tactical prowess by securing a place in the world’s biggest sporting event.
