Tesilimi Thunder Balogun: Legacy of a Legend

Tesilimi ‘Thunder’ Balogun: Legacy of a Legend is a deeply researched account of the odyssey of one of the earliest international footballers from Nigeria. He is regarded as the first football legend in Nigeria as the early history of Nigeria’s national cup competition is almost an account of the football exploits of Balogun.

To many who were born in the 1940s or before 1960 – the old generation – Balogun was the best footballer to have come from Nigeria. He was regarded as a total footballer who combined scheming skills with striking skills. He was seen as a footballer with sharp shooting, dribbling and heading skills.

On the international scene, he was one of the earliest Nigerian footballers to venture abroad and also trained as a coach. He is reported to be Africa’s first qualified professional football coach. He was the assistant coach to the Nigerian team at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico. But as his star began to take an international dimension, he died suddenly in his sleep on 30 July 1972. This book recalls his exploits.