Daniel Amokachi (born December 30, 1972 in Kaduna) is a
former football striker from Nigeria. He played many
international matches for Nigeria, and was part of the team that
participated in the 1994 World Cup and 1998 World Cup and won
the 1994 African Nations Cup. He also helped win the Olympic
gold medal in 1996.
While playing for Ranchers Bees, Amokachi was discovered by
Nigerian national team coach Clemens Westerhof, who brought the
talented player to the 1990 African Nations Cup, and soon
Amokachi moved to play for Club Brugge in Belgium. Performing
well in Belgium and at the 1994 World Cup, Everton F.C. became
interested in Amokachi and bought him for £3,000,000
($4,700,000). He went on to win the FA Cup with Everton in 1995,
famously scoring two goals in the semi-final. He appeared in the
final only briefly, late on, as a substitute but is remembered
fondly for his beret wearing celebrations.
He stayed at Everton until 1996, never really making the impact
hoped, and was sold to Besiktas for £1,750,000 .
Amokachi sustained an injury just ahead of the 1998 World Cup,
played one game, but struggled with knee problems thereafter.
After leaving Besiktas in 1999, his playing career more or less
ended. He signed with 1860 Munich, but the contract was
cancelled after he failed a medical test. In turn he was
rejected by Tranmere Rovers for the same reason. Amokachi
trained with French second division side US Créteil, but the
deal was hampered by injuries. American MLS team Colorado Rapids
signed him in 2002, but seeing as he was not fit enough they
released him before a single match was played. He went to play
in the United Arab Emirates, but was denied again due to his
medical condition. |
