Roger Milla: The Powerful Emblem of African Football

Some twenty-five years ago before Italia 90, Africa's national teams were always and probably rightly, considered minnows. As a football follower, you perhaps have heard of certain African teams being walloped 7-0 by their European counterparts in world cup matches. However, this changed in Italia 90, largely due to one 38-year-old striker by the name Roger Milla. As a striker, the little known Roger Milla became the light in a Cameroon national team considered minnows before the tournament began. It was his goals against some of the biggest names of football and his amazing dances at the flag posts that had everyone talking about Cameroon and African football in general. Without doubt, Roger Milla ultimately became the emblem of African football and changed the way Africa national teams were viewed.

Born in 1952, Roger Milla had the opportunity of representing Cameroon national team in three FIFA world cups. Even though Roger Milla was not identified with bigger clubs in European football, his heroics of two goals against Colombia in the last 16 and his amazing dances at the flag post changed the way the African players were being viewed by elite clubs in Europe. After coming on as a substitute with Cameroon trailing one-nil to Colombia in the last 16, Roger Milla went on to score two goals to send Cameroon to the last eight and being the first African team to reach the quarter-finals. Having scored four goals in the tournament, Roger Milla's dance at the flag post became a sensation and was a joyous way of communication through body language and a powerful way of celebrating goals.

Having started his football career in Yaoundé Cameroon, Roger Milla was lured to Europe with a host of clubs in the French league with Valenciennes, Monaco, Bastia, Saint Etienne and Montpellier. He, however, achieved success at Saint Etienne and Montpellier before moving back to Africa. Despite lack of success at club level, Roger Milla was perfectly created for the big stage with the national team. He started his career with the Cameroon national team in 1973 and represented the team in 1982 FIFA World Cup, as well as at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Roger Milla had retired from the national team in 1987 but was later persuaded by Cameroon president Paul Biya to represent the team in Italia 90. After starring in 1990, Roger Milla got another opportunity to represent Cameroon at the 1994 world cup tournament. At 42 years, he became the oldest player at the time, and in fact, the oldest goalscorer at any world cup tournament. Roger Milla retired later that year with his last match being against South Africa.

Even though Roger Milla did not achieve financial success that current African players receive while playing their football in Europe, he truly remained one of the biggest names that are associated with Italia 90 with others including England's Paul Gascoigne and Italy's Toto Schillaci. His sensational scoring prowess and amazing dance moves might have not changed his stature financially, perhaps, because of his twilight age in football terms, but he became a true African football icon, something that no amount of money can buy.