Thanni Biliaminu, Nigeria’s oldest surviving Federation Cup-winning captain, has been honoured in the newly released Road to Morocco documentary series, a reflective production that traces the Super Eagles’ journey in pursuit of a fourth Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title.
Now 80, Biliaminu stands as a living link to the earliest chapters of Nigerian football. In 1956, he captained Plateau FC to Federation Cup glory during an era when the sport was fuelled by pure passion, a time when footballers held full-time jobs and matches were followed through radio broadcasts and word-of-mouth on bustling street corners.
Nearly seven decades later, Biliaminu’s story takes centre stage in Let’s Do It Again, the first episode of the Road to Morocco series. He opens the documentary with a heartfelt, first-hand account of football’s humble beginnings in Nigeria — reliving the days when community pride ran deep and playing for the nation was the ultimate honour.
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“Playing for the nation was the paramount for every Nigerian that time,” Biliaminu says.
“I remember the noise that day in Surulere. We had waited too long for something to celebrate. That team gave the people a reason to believe.”
Though no longer on the pitch, Biliaminu vividly recalls Nigeria’s historic 1980 AFCON triumph, which he watched as a proud fan. “It became a great joy for me when we won the Nations Cup,” he adds with emotion.
His inclusion in the documentary goes beyond nostalgia. It is a purposeful effort by the filmmakers to spotlight the forgotten heroes who laid the foundations for Nigeria’s footballing successes — long before the glamour of Atlanta ’96 or Tunisia ’94, there were players who gave their all for little more than national pride.
Biliaminu was also formally celebrated by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) during halftime of the 2024/25 Federation Cup final at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos. In a moving tribute, the National Sports Commission presented him with commemorative plaques and monetary gifts, recognising his immense contribution to the sport.
