Nigeria national football team

Nigeria

Nickname(s)	Super Eagles
Association	Nigeria Football Federation
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Head coach	Shaibu Amodu
Captain	Nwankwo Kanu
Most caps	Mudashiru Lawal (86)
Top scorer	Rashidi Yekini (37)
Home stadium	Abuja Stadium
FIFA code	NGA
FIFA ranking	22
Highest FIFA ranking	5 (April 1994)
Lowest FIFA ranking	82 (November 1999)
Elo ranking	33
Highest Elo ranking	14 (31 May 2004)
Lowest Elo ranking	87 (27 December 1964)
Home colours Away colours
First international
Nigeria 2 – 0 Sierra Leone Freetown, Sierra Leone; (8 October 1949)
Biggest win
Nigeria 10 – 1 Dahomey (Lagos, Nigeria; 28 November 1959)
Biggest defeat
Gold Coast 7 – 0 Nigeria (Accra, Ghana; 1 June 1955)
World Cup
Appearances	3 (First in 1994)
Best result	Round of 16, 1994 and 1998
African Nations Cup
Appearances	15 (First in 1963)
Best result	Winners, 1980 and 1994
Confederations Cup
Appearances	1 (First in 1995)
Best result	4th, 1995
Honours Olympic medal record Competitor for  Nigeria Men’s Football[1] Gold 1996 Atlanta Team Silver 2008 Beijing Team

The Nigeria national football team, nicknamed the Super Eagles, is the national team of Nigeria and is controlled by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). According to the FIFA World Rankings, Nigeria ranks 22nd and holds the third highest place among the African nations behind Cameroon (11th) and Côte d'Ivoire (16th). The highest position ever reached on the ranking was 5th in April 1994.

History

Nigeria played their first unofficial game in October 1949, while still a British colony. The team played warmup games in England against various amateur teams like Dulwich Hamlet, Bishop Auckland and South Liverpool. The team's first major success was a gold medal in the 2nd All-Africa games, with 3rd place finishes in 1976 and 1978's African Cup of Nations to follow. In 1980 the team had such players as Leyton Orient's John Chiedozie and Tunji Banjo, and the Muda Lawal / Christian Chukwu-led Super Eagles won the Cup for the first time in Lagos. In 1984 and 1988, Nigeria reached the Cup of Nations final, losing both times to Cameroon. Three of the four African titles won by Cameroon have been won by defeating Nigeria. Missing out to Cameroon on many occasions has created an intense rivalry between both nations. Two notable occasions; narrowly losing out on qualification for 1990 World Cup and then the controversial final of the 2000 African Nations Cup where a goal scored by Victor Ikpeba during a penalty shoot out was disallowed by the referee.

1994 World Cup

Nigeria finally reached the World Cup for the first time in the 1994 FIFA World Cup. They were managed by Clemens Westerhof who is commonly considered to be the best coach to have ever led Nigeria. Nigeria topped their group which included Argentina, Bulgaria, and Greece. In their first game Nigeria defeated Bulgaria 3-0, lost to Argentina 1-2, and qualified for the second round after a 2-0 victory over Greece. In the second round Nigeria played Italy and took the lead with a goal from Amunike at 25 min. Nigeria were within one minute of qualifying for the Quarter finals of 1994 World Cup in the game against Italy but Roberto Baggio scored to take the game to extra time. He also scored the eventual winning goal.

1998 World Cup

In 1998 Nigeria returned to the World Cup alongside Cameroon, Morocco, Tunisia, and South Africa. Optimism was high due to their manager Bora Milutinovc and the return of most 1994 squad members. In the final tournament Nigeria were drawn into group D with Spain, Bulgaria, Paraguay. Nigeria scored a major upset by defeating Spain 3-2 after coming back twice from being 1-0 and 2-1 down. The Eagles qualified for the second round with win against Bulgaria and loss to Paraguay. Their hopes of surpassing their 1994 performance was shattered after a 4-1 loss to Denmark.

2002 World Cup

The 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea and Japan, saw Nigeria again qualify with optimism. With a new squad and distinctive pastel green kits the Super Eagles were expected to build on their strong performances in the 2000 and 2002 African Cup of Nations. Nigeria were drawn into group F with powerhouses Sweden, Argentina, and England. They started their first game against Argentina with a strong defence and kept the first half scoreless. However in the 61st minute Gabriel Batistuta breached the Nigerian defense to put Argentina in the lead 1-0 and win the game. Nigeria's second game against Sweden saw them take the lead but later lose 2-1. There was little consolation when Nigeria drew 0-0 with England and bowed out in the first round.

Nigeria missed out on qualification for the 2006 World Cup after finishing level on points in the qualification group with Angola, but having an inferior record in the matches between the sides.

On 14 November, 2009, Nigeria qualified for the 2010 World Cup after defeating Kenya by 3-2 in Nairobi.^[2]

African Nations Cup

Nigeria won the African Nations Cup twice (1980 and 1994). More recently they took third place at the 2002 African Nations Cup, the 2004 African Nations Cup, and the 2006 African Nations Cup.

Achievements

• African Cup of Nations: 2
  

1980, 1994

• All-Africa Games: 1
  

1973

• Afro-Asian Cup of Nations: 1
  

1995

• CEDEAO Cup: 1
  

1990

• Olympic Games Gold: 1
  

Atlanta 1996^[1]

• Olympic Games Silver: 1
  

Beijing 2008^[1]

World Cup record

Confederations Cup record

African Cup of Nations record

African Cup of Nations
Titles: 2 Appearances: 15
Year	Position		Year	Position		Year	Position
1957	Did not qualify		1976	Third place		1994	Champions
1959	Did not qualify		1978	Third place		1996	Withdrew from tournament
1962	Did not qualify		1980	Champions		1998	Disqualified for failure to participate in 1996
1963	Round 1		1982	Round 1		2000	Second place
1965	Did not qualify		1984	Second place		2002	Third place
1968	Did not qualify		1986	Did not qualify		2004	Third place
1970	Did not qualify		1988	Second place		2006	Third place
1972	Did not qualify		1990	Second place		2008	Quarter-finals
1974	Did not qualify		1992	Third place		2010	Qualified

Current squad

The following players were called in for the World Cup qualifier against Kenya on November 14 2009. Caps/goals correct as of November 14 2009

No. Pos. Player DoB (Age) Caps Goals Club 1 GK Vincent Enyeama 29 August 1982 (1982-08-29) (age 27) 44 0 Hapoel Tel Aviv 1 GK Greg Etafia 30 September 1982 (1982-09-30) (age 27) 4 0 Moroka Swallows GK Dele Aiyenugba 20 November 1983 (1983-11-20) (age 26) 7 0 Bnei Yehuda 3 DF Taye Taiwo 16 April 1985 (1985-04-16) (age 24) 29 7 Marseille 5 DF Obinna Nwaneri 18 March 1982 (1982-03-18) (age 27) 32 1 Sion 6 DF Danny Shittu 2 September 1980 (1980-09-02) (age 29) 17 0 Bolton Wanderers 18 DF Onyekachi Apam 30 December 1986 (1986-12-30) (age 22) 7 0 Nice DF Uwa Elderson Echiéjilé 20 January 1988 (1988-01-20) (age 21) 4 0 Rennes 19 MF Dele Adeleye 25 December 1988 (1988-12-25) (age 20) 4 0 Sparta Rotterdam DF Joseph Yobo 6 September 1980 (1980-09-06) (age 29) 64 4 Everton 13 DF Chidi Odiah 17 December 1983 (1983-12-17) (age 25) 18 1 CSKA Moscow 10 MF Mikel John Obi 22 April 1987 (1987-04-22) (age 22) 28 2 Chelsea 14 MF Femi Ajilore 18 January 1985 (1985-01-18) (age 24) 4 0 Groningen 17 MF Sani Kaita 2 May 1986 (1986-05-02) (age 23) 9 0 Kuban Krasnodar 14 MF Seyi Olofinjana 30 June 1980 (1980-06-30) (age 29) 22 0 Hull City MF Ayila Yussuf 4 November 1984 (1984-11-04) (age 25) 16 2 Dynamo Kyiv 4 FW Nwankwo Kanu 1 August 1976 (1976-08-01) (age 33) 79 13 Portsmouth 7 FW Victor Obinna 25 March 1987 (1987-03-25) (age 22) 18 7 Málaga 11 FW Peter Odemwingie 15 July 1981 (1981-07-15) (age 28) 31 6 Lokomotiv Moscow FW Michael Eneramo 26 November 1985 (1985-11-26) (age 23) 8 2 Espérance 8 FW Joseph Akpala 24 August 1986 (1986-08-24) (age 23) 2 1 Club Brugge 9 FW Obafemi Martins 28 October 1984 (1984-10-28) (age 25) 24 15 Wolfsburg FW Yakubu Aiyegbeni 22 November 1982 (1982-11-22) (age 27) 45 17 Everton

Recent call-ups

No. Pos. Player DoB (Age) Caps Goals Club 12 GK Austin Ejide (WCQ v. Tunisia, 6 September 2009) 8 April 1984 (1984-04-08) (age 25) 13 0 Bastia 11 MF Lukman Haruna (WCQ v. South Africa, 6 September 2008) 4 December 1990 (1990-12-04) (age 18) Monaco 18 FW Victor Anichebe (WCQ v. Equatorial Guinea, 21 June) 23 April 1988 (1988-04-23) (age 21) 4 0 Everton FW Kayode Odejayi (Friendly v. Austria, 27 May) 21 February 1982 (1982-02-21) (age 27) 1 0 Barnsley DF Ifeanyi Emeghara (Africa Nations Cup 2008) 24 March 1984 (1984-03-24) (age 25) Steaua Bucureşti MF Richard Eromoigbe (Africa Nations Cup 2008) 26 June 1984 (1984-06-26) (age 25) Khimki MF Onyekachi Okonkwo (Africa Nations Cup 2008) 13 May 1982 (1982-05-13) (age 27) FC Zürich FW Stephen Makinwa (Africa Nations Cup 2008) 26 July 1983 (1983-07-26) (age 26) Chievo DF Kingsley Udoh (Friendly v. Sudan, 9 January 2008) 7 December 1990 (1990-12-07) (age 18) 1 0 Akwa United DF Efe Ambrose (Friendly v. Sudan, 9 January 2008) 18 October 1988 (1988-10-18) (age 21) 1 0 Kaduna United FW Manasseh Ishiaku (Friendly v. Sudan, 9 January) 9 January 1983 (1983-01-09) (age 26) 4 1 Köln GK Ngemba Evans Obi (Friendly v. Colombia, 22 November) 7 July 1984 (1984-07-07) (age 25) 0 Fürstenfeldbruck II[3] MF Paul Obiefule (Friendly v. Jamaica, 11 February 2009) 15 May 1986 (1986-05-15) (age 23) 10 0 Lyn Oslo DF Rabiu Afolabi (WC Qualifier v. Mozambique, 29 March) 18 April 1980 (1980-04-18) (age 29) Sochaux MF Sone Aluko (Friendly v. Ireland, 29 May 2009) 19 February 1989 (1989-02-19) (age 20) 1 0 Aberdeen MF Oladapo Olufemi (Friendly v. Sudan, 9 January 2008) 11 May 1988 (1988-05-11) (age 21) 1 0 IK Start 15 FW Ikechukwu Uche (WC Qualifier v. Tunisia, 6 September) 5 January 1984 (1984-01-05) (age 25) 23 6 Real Zaragoza 16 MF Kalu Uche (WC Qualifier v. Tunisia, 6 September) 15 November 1982 (1982-11-15) (age 27) 10 1 Almería DF Chibuzor Okonkwo (WC Qualifier v. Mozambique, October 11) 16 December 1988 (1988-12-16) (age 20) 0 0 Bayelsa United DF Olubayo Adefemi (WC Qualifier v. Mozambique, October 11) 13 August 1985 (1985-08-13) (age 24) 3 0 Rheindorf Altach DF Yusuf Mohamed (WC Qualifier v. Mozambique, October 11) 5 November 1983 (1983-11-05) (age 26) 7 0 Sion DF Sam Sodje (WC Qualifier v. Mozambique, October 11) 25 May 1979 (1979-05-25) (age 30) 2 0 Charlton Athletic MF Dickson Etuhu (WC Qualifier v. Mozambique, October 11) 8 June 1982 (1982-06-08) (age 27) 6 0 Fulham FW Chinedu Obasi (WC Qualifier v. Mozambique, October 11) 1 June 1986 (1986-06-01) (age 23) 16 3 1899 Hoffenheim FW Peter Utaka (WC Qualifier v. Mozambique, October 11) 12 February 1984 (1984-02-12) (age 25) 0 0 Odense

Managers

Team managers of Nigeria and the dates they took over.

Date appointed	Manager name
2008-	Shaibu Amodu
2008	James Peters
2007–2008	Berti Vogts
2005–2007	Augustine Eguavoen
2002–2005	Christian Chukwu
2002	Adegboyega Onigbinde
2001–2002	Shaibu Amodu
1999–2001	Johannes Bonfrere
1999–1999	Thijs Libregts
1998–1998	Bora Milutinović
1997–1998	Monday Sinclar
1997–1998	Philippe Troussier
1996–1997	Shaibu Amodu
1995–1996	Johannes Bonfere
1994–1995	Shaibu Amodu
1989–1994	Clemens Westerhof
1987–1989	Paul Hamilton
1988–1989	Manfred Hoener
1985	Patrick Ekeji
1984–1986	Chris Udemezue
1983–1984	Adegboyega Onigbinde
1981	Gottlieb Goller
1979–1982	Otto Gloria
1970–1971 & 1974	Heinz Marotze
1974–1978	Jelisavčić 'Tiki' Tihomir
1972–1973 1963–1964	George Penna
1969–1970	Peter 'Eto' Amaechina
1965–1968	Joseph Ember
1964–1965	Daniel Anyiam
1961–1963	George Vardar
1960–1961	Moshe Beth-Halevi
1956–1960	Les Courtier
1954–1956	Daniel Anyiam
1949	John Finch

Top goalscorers

List of Nigeria's top ten highest ever international goalscorers.

Goal scored	Player name
37	Rashidi Yekini
23	Segun Odegbami
18	Yakubu
17	Sunday Oyarekhua
15	Obafemi Martins
14	Daniel Amokachi
14	Jay-Jay Okocha
14	Julius Aghahowa
13	Nwankwo Kanu
13	Samson Siasia

Recent results (last 15 months)

• 2010 African Cup of Nations Qualifying Group 4:
  •  Nigeria 2 v 0  South Africa, 1 June 2008
  •  Sierra Leone 0 v 1  Nigeria, 7 June 2008
  •  Equatorial Guinea 0 v 1  Nigeria, 15 June 2008
  •  Nigeria 2 v 0  Equatorial Guinea, 21 June 2008
  •  South Africa 0 v 1  Nigeria, 5 September 2008
  •  Nigeria 4 v 1  Sierra Leone, 11 October 2008
  •  Mozambique 0 v 0  Nigeria, 29 March 2009
  •  Nigeria 3 v 0  Kenya, 7 June 2009
  •  Tunisia 0 v 0  Nigeria, 20 June 2009
  •  Nigeria 2 v 2  Tunisia, 6 September 2009
  •  Nigeria 1 v 0  Mozambique, 11 October 2009
  •  Kenya 2 v 3  Nigeria, 14 November 2009

Friendly matches

• •  Nigeria 1 - 1  Austria, 27 May 2008
  •  Nigeria 0 - 1  Colombia, 19 November 2008
  •  Nigeria 0 - 0  Jamaica, 11 February 2009
  •  Nigeria 1 - 1  Republic of Ireland, 29 May 2009
  •  Nigeria 1 - 0  France, 2 June 2009

References

External links

• Kick Off Nigeria
• RSSSF archive of results 1955-
• Nigerian Football Statistics and Articles
• Nigerian Football Online

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