Utaka Returns To Happy Hunting Ground

John Chukwudi Utaka will be one of only two players in the Nigerian squad that were in Blantyre the last time the Super Eagles tackled the Flames in a qualifying match in that country.

On March 29, 2003, the Eagles doused the Flames 1-0 in a 2004 African Cup of Nations qualifying match, right at the Kamuzu Stadium. The only goal of the match was scored by John Utaka.

The languid but efficient marksman returns to the Kamuzu Stadium on Saturday as member of the Nigerian team that must earn three points against the Flames in a Day 2 match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil
qualification series of the African zone.

Born on January 8, 1982, Utaka first played for Nigeria at the 2002 African Cup of Nations finals in Mali, and starred at the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals in Korea/Japan.

He also played at the 2004 African Cup of Nations finals in Tunisia, scoring the famous goal that deposed
Cup holders Cameroon in the quarter finals, and was also in the Nigeria squad at the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa.