Nigeria legend Segun Odegbami has confirmed that Tottenham Hotspur once wanted to sign him and recalled how the proposed move to the English club eventually fell through.
At the time Kojo Alakija was the national team manager and he arranged for Odegbami to travel to England for an assessment with a view to securing a transfer.
The 1980 Africa Cup of Nations winner made the trip but surprisingly never turned up at Tottenham Hotspur's training ground.
Had the move gone ahead, Odegbami could have become the first Nigerian-born winger to feature for Tottenham Hotspur ahead of John Chiedozie and Arnaut Danjuma.
For 14 years Odegbami wore the colours of Shooting Stars and remained loyal to the club throughout his senior career.
The former attacker travelled to England hoping to impress Tottenham Hotspur coaches but never turned up for the trial.
Speaking on ThePlayzone podcast, Odegbami said: "I went there for a trial, and I ended up in the Empire Ballroom dancing with ..... and I never went.
"I was first to be listed in the top ten in Africa. I was the first to be the third-best player in Africa. I was the first to be the second-best in Africa.
"I should have won the African Best Player award in 1984 if we had won in Lagos the African Cup of Champions Clubs.
"In the semifinals, I got injured. I was on course to becoming Africa’s best player."
Despite missing the opportunity to join Tottenham Hotspur, Odegbami went on to enjoy a distinguished career with Shooting Stars, winning the African Cup Winners' Cup, the Nigerian FA Cup and the Nigerian top-flight title during his spell with the club.
Ifeanyi Emmanuel