World football governing body FIFA has sent birthday wishes to former Nigeria left-back Celestine Babayaro who turned 43 on Sunday.

FIFA sent their birthday wishes with a picture of Babayaro’s cartwheel celebration against Argentina in the final of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic games.

“Let’s all do a cartwheel for Celestine Babayaro!

“The @NGSuperEagles’ 1996 gold medal hero is celebrating his birthday today.”

Babayaro featured for Nigeria at the France 1998 and Korea/Japan 2002 World Cups.

Also, he represented Nigeria at three Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana/Nigeria 2000, Mali 2002 and Tunisia 2004.

He alongside Victor Agali and Yakubu Aiyegbeni were kicked out of the Eagles squad at the 2004 AFCON for breaking camp rules.

He was a member of the U-23 Eagles that won the gold medal in the football event at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic games and also helped Nigeria win the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Japan.

In 1997, he joined Chelsea from Anderlecht and went on to win the now defunct UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup (1998), UEFA Super Cup  (1998), FA Cup  (2000) and Community Shield  (2000).

He was named Belgian Young Professional Footballer of the Year: 1994-1995 and 1995-1996 and the Ebony Shoe Award in 1996.

By James Agberebi