Nigeria’s Super Eagles are one of the most successful teams in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations but that story has been 62 years in the making.
Few things unite Nigerians quite like football and at the centre of that shared heartbeat lies the Africa Cup of Nations. Every edition tells a familiar story: a nation of 200 million holding its breath as the Super Eagles chase continental glory.
Nigeria now boast three African titles, five silver medals and eight bronze medals in what is the largest haul of any nation on the continent.
In the beginning, though, Nigeria and AFCON success were two parallel lines that appeared like they would never meet.
Nigeria AFCON history: The early years
Nigeria’s AFCON history only began in 1963 when the nation qualified for the first time, though, Africa’s number one football tournament started with four teams in 1957.
Having gained independence in 1960, Nigeria was not affiliated with CAF during the 1957 and 1959 editions and the young nation withdrew from the tournament in 1962 following a controversial qualifier against Tunisia.
In Nigeria’s first AFCON appearance in 1963, the Green Eagles, as they were then known, lost both of their matches to crash out at the group stage.
By the time Nigeria returned to the AFCON 13 years later, Egypt, Ghana and DR Congo had won two titles each while Ethiopia had even been crowned African champions.
By 1976, things began to change. Under the guidance of the late Father Tiko, Nigeria earned its first-ever AFCON medal, a bronze, in only their second appearance at the tournament.
That unexpected success signalled the rise of a sleeping giant.
In the era of black-and-white broadcasts and radio commentaries that made heroes out of voices, players like Christian Chukwu, Muda Lawal, and Segun Odegbami became household names. The kind children pretended to be in street football matches from Enugu to Ibadan.
Another third place finish followed in 1978. The foundation was set; all that was missing was the finishing touch and it arrived two years later.
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Nigeria AFCON history: The first trophy win
In 1980, football met destiny.
Hosting the tournament for the first time, Nigeria was determined to make the occasion count. Under Brazilian coach Otto Gloria, the Green Eagles played football with samba-like flair and homegrown pride.
The final against Algeria in Lagos remains one of the most euphoric moments in Nigerian sports history. Odegbami danced past defenders to score a brace, midfield commander Muda Lawal added a third in a fine 3-0 win. When the final whistle blew, the National Stadium erupted.
Nigeria had its first AFCON title while making a big statement of her arrival on Africa’s biggest stage.
Nigeria AFCON history: Heartbreaks and near misses
If the 1980s taught Nigeria anything, it was that football glory never comes easy. That decade brought heartbreak and controversy in equal measure.
In 1984, Nigeria reached the final again but fell 3–1 to a relentless Cameroon side led by Roger Milla.
Four years later, in 1988, the Eagles met the same opponents in another final, and this time the defeat came with a sting; a disallowed Henry Nwosu goal that still sparks barbershop debates to this day among the older generation.
Yet, even in disappointment, Nigeria was shaping an identity: bold, technical, and proud. This was the period that produced the spine of what would become the Golden Generation: Stephen Keshi, Rashidi Yekini, and Uche Okechukwu among others. The pieces were falling into place.
Nigeria AFCON history: The golden generation
The 1990s were Nigeria’s decade of football royalty.
The Eagles finished runners up to host Algeria in 1990 and won bronze in Senegal two years later in what should have served as a warning shot to the rest of the continent.
By 1994, Nigeria’s brilliance burst into full bloom.
Now reborn as the Super Eagles, Nigeria arrived in Tunisia that year with swagger and talent unmatched on the continent.
Rashidi Yekini’s goals, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha’s artistry, Sunday Oliseh’s mastery in the middle of the park, the support cast of Samson Siasia, Finidi George and Daniel Amokachi; that team was irresistible.
It was Emmanuel Amuneke, though, on his AFCON debut, who scored twice in the 2-1 comeback victory against Zambia – a win that handed Nigeria the country’s second AFCON title.
That 1994 team wasn’t just the best in Africa; it was world-class. They carried that confidence to the World Cup in the USA, earning global respect.
For a moment, it felt like Nigeria could conquer anything and for many fans, that team remains the standard by which all others are measured.
Nigeria AFCON history: The turbulent transition
Then came the chaos. Nigeria withdrew from the 1996 AFCON in South Africa due to political reasons, drawing CAF’s wrath and a subsequent ban in 1998.
Nigeria did not return to the AFCON for another six years. Sadly, the talents of Amokachi, Siasia, and Benedict Iroha, who were all in their early twenties in 1994 would never be seen again at the continent’s number one showpiece.
Nigeria co-hosted the 2000 AFCON with Ghana, in an adventure that began with pride and ended in pain.
A thrilling run saw the Super Eagles reach the final only to suffer heartbreak as Cameroon snatched the title in Lagos after a tense penalty shootout.
That final, featuring Jay-Jay Okocha’s flair and Nwankwo Kanu’s magic, still hurts, not just because Nigeria lost, but because they lost at home.
The 2000s became a cycle of promise and frustration. Superstars came and went; Okocha, Kanu, Obafemi Martins, Julius Aghahowa, Yakubu Aiyegbeni. Still, the elusive third star stayed out of reach.
Still, Nigeria’s consistency remained remarkable as the Super Eagles picked up four bronze medals in five editions between 2002 and 2010.
Nigeria AFCON history: Redemption in South Africa
After years in the wilderness, salvation finally came for Nigeria in 2013 and it was inspired by a familiar face.
Stephen Keshi, the captain of the 1994 side, returned as coach, armed with belief and a squad few rated highly.
But football loves a good comeback story.
Against the odds, Nigeria marched through the tournament, growing stronger with each game. Sunday Mba, plucked from the local league, became the unlikely hero, scoring the winner against Burkina Faso in the final.
It was poetic justice: the captain of the old guard had now led the new generation to glory. Keshi became only the second man in history to win the AFCON both as a player and a coach.
Even moreso, it was only fittting that a third AFCON crown would be won on the soils of South Africa that had birthed the country’s football troubles in 1996.
Nigeria AFCON history: Rebuilding identity
After the 2013 triumph, the journey grew bumpy again.
Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2015 and 2017 editions, a rare fall from grace. When they returned in 2019, under Gernot Rohr, it was to reclaim respect.
A young side led by John Mikel Obi, Ahmed Musa, and Odion Ighalo fought their way to third place.
By 2021, Victor Osimhen had emerged as the new face of Nigerian football; fiery, hungry, and full of energy. Alongside Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, and Alex Iwobi, he represents a new generation determined to write its own AFCON history.
Under Portuguese manager José Peseiro, the Super Eagles fought their way past hosts Cote d’Ivoire, Angola, Cameroon and South Africa to reach the final of the 2023 AFCON. It was Nigeria’s first appearance in the final since winning the AFCON in 2013.
However, the Super Eagles failed to secure a second victory over the Ivorians as they lost 2-1 in the title decider.
The 2025 AFCON kicks off in a few weeks in Morocco and Nigeria, fueled by the talents of Osimhen and Lookman, will aim to rise to the pinnacle of African football once again.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles AFCON record
Nigeria’s Super Eagles boast several records in the coutry’s 62 years of participating at the AFCON.
Here are a few of the eye-catching ones:
- Nigeria has never lost a third-place match at the AFCON. The Super Eagles have claimed bronze eight times in as many attempts, the most of any nation in tournament history.
- No country has reached the AFCON semifinal more times than Nigeria. The Super Eagles have reached the last four stage of the competition 16 times, a record shared with Egypt.
- Nigeria have lost the final of the AFCON a record five times. No country has suffered more title heartbreak, with Ghana on par with Nigeria’s five.
- Christian Chukwu is the first Nigerian player to win the AFCON Best Player award for his heroics in 1980. Rashidi Yekini (in 1994), Austin Okocha (2004), and William Troost-Ekong (2023) are the only other Super Eagles stars to have won the prestigious individual honour.
- Segun Odegbami is the first Nigerian to win the AFCON topscorer award, after netting three goals at the 1978 edition. He claimed it again two years later on home soil. Yekini (twice), Aghahowa, Okocha, Emmanuel Emenike and Odion Ighalo are the other Nigerians to have the goalscoring award.
- Five Nigerian players – Vincent Enyeama, Efe Ambrose, Victor Moses, Mikel Obi, and Emmanuel Emenike- made the Team of the Tournament at the 2013 AFCON, the most in the history of the competition. Only three Eagles stars made the Best XI team when Nigeria won the trophy in 1980 and four in 1994.
- The highest-scoring Nigerian in the history of the AFCON is Rashidi Yekini with 13 goals in 24 games. He is followed by Okocha (7 goals), Odegbami (6), Aghahowa (6), Peter Odemwingie (5), Odion Ighalo (5), William Troost-Ekong (5), and Muda Lawal (5).