Federation Cup legend Thanni Biliaminu honoured in ‘Road to Morocco’ documentary
Nigeria’s oldest surviving Federation Cup-winning captain, Thanni Biliaminu, has backed the Super Eagles to win the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.
Biliaminu was immortalised in the newly released documentary series Road to Morocco, which charts the Super Eagles’ pursuit of a fourth Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) crown.
At 80 years old, Biliaminu is more than a retired footballer, he is a living archive of Nigerian football’s grassroots beginnings.
In 1956, he led Plateau FC to victory in the prestigious Federation Cup, at a time when the game was driven more by passion than profit, and players balanced full-time work with their love for football.
What Biliaminu said
Now, nearly seven decades later, Biliaminu’s story is being brought to a new generation through Let’s Do It Again, the first episode of the Road to Morocco series.
In the opening scenes, Biliaminu shares a poignant, first-person reflection on the early days of Nigerian football, from the thrill of radio commentary to the community pride that came with every victory.
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“Playing for the nation was the paramount for every Nigerian that time,” he says in the documentary.
He continued, “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.”
Biliaminu also reflects on Nigeria’s historic 1980 AFCON triumph, a moment he witnessed not from the sidelines, but as a fan in the stands, already a veteran of the game.
“It became a great joy for me when we won the Nations Cup,” he adds with visible emotion.
His inclusion in the documentary is far from symbolic. It is a deliberate decision by the producers to highlight the foundational figures who laid the groundwork for modern Nigerian football. Before the heights of Atlanta ’96 or the triumph of Tunisia ’94, there was a generation of players who gave everything without ever expecting global stardom.
Biliaminu was also formally honoured by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) during halftime of the 2024/25 Federation Cup final held at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos.
In a heartfelt ceremony, officials from the National Sports Commission presented him with commemorative plaques and monetary gifts, celebrating his enduring legacy and impact on the sport.
Road to Morocco is more than just a sports documentary, it’s a layered narrative that connects Nigeria’s footballing past with its future.