F.I.F.A. Men's National Soccer Team Spotlight: Nigeria Super Eagles Golden Generation

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At one time in the not-too distant past, Nigeria’s men’s national soccer team was one of the most feared and respected national sides in the world. Traditionally an African continental soccer powerhouse alongside Egypt, Cameroon, Ghana, Algeria and a select few other African nations, the early-to-late nineties time period produced the so-called “golden generation” of Nigerian men’s soccer. Featuring the likes of 1995 U.E.F.A. (Union of European Football Associations) Champion’s League winner star striker Nwankwo Kanu (Ajax F.C.–The Netherlands) and the highly-skilled, entertaining Nigerian midfielder Augustin “J.J.” Okocha (Everton F.C.–England), the Nigeria men’s national soccer team potent offensive arsenal wreaked havoc on opposing team’s defenses, African or otherwise.

Led by experienced Dutch head coach Clemens Westerhof, the Nigerian team was so successful at one point in time that they were one eleventh-hour mishap from reaching the quarterfinals at World Cup 1994 hosted by the United States. With the Round of 16 elimination match against Italy even at 1-1 after 102 minutes (in extra time), Italian defender Antonio Benarrivo was brought down in the penalty box by Nigerian defender Augustine Eguavoen thereby awarding Italy a penalty kick. The ensuing penalty was converted by legendary Italian striker Roberto Baggio, handing Nigeria a devastating 2-1 knockout defeat and granting Italy an eventual meeting with powerhouse Brazil in the finals match. Till this day, much controversy has been stirred regarding whether or not Benarrivo was really deserving of a penalty kick or not.

Prior to Nigeria’s dramatic exit from World Cup 1994, they made handiwork of their group’s opponents, with the exception of Diego Maradona-led Argentina. Nigeria routed Hristo Stoichkov-led Bulgaria 3-0 and likewise did away with Greece, 2-0, with spectacular goals netted by midfielders, Emmanuel Amunike and Finidi George in those games, respectively. If it was not for the aging legend Maradona catching Nigeria’s defense by surprise with his hurried dead ball pass to speedy, left-footed Argentine striker Claudio Cannigia, Nigeria would not have conceded the subsequent goal to Argentina, resulting in a 2-1 win for Argentina. Nigeria’s superb, powerful striker Rashidi “Bull of Kaduna” Yekini also scored in the victory against Bulgaria in World Cup 1994 U.S.A. I remember vividly Yekini’s memorable post-goal celebration, in which he joyfully grabbed and shook the goal’s net after scoring against Bulgaria, verbally giving thanks to God.

Nigeria’s 1994 World Cup U.S.A. team included the following world-class players: aforementioned striker Rashidi Yekini, clever midfielder Finidi George, powerful, squat striker Daniel “The Bull” Amokachi, skillful midfielder Emmanuel Amunike, athletic, attacking defender Sunday Oliseh, amongst others. Nigeria received the highest ranking in their history by Fédération Internationale de Football Association (F.I.F.A.) shortly prior to World Cup 1994 U.S.A., ranking 5th in the world behind Brazil, Germany, Norway and Switzerland, in order.

Nigeria’s potent mix of physical prowess and technical mastery would often prove to be too much for opponents too handle, domestically in Africa or otherwise. Shortly prior to World Cup 1994 U.S.A., Nigeria won the continental 1994 African Cup of Nations (A.F.C.O.N.) championship hosted in Tunis, Tunisia, defeating the great Kalusha Bwalya-led Zambia 2-1 in the finals match. Leading up to the victory against Zambia in the final, Nigeria drew with Egypt 0-0, and humbled Gabon, 3-0. In the knockout stages, Nigeria defeated Zaire, 2-0 and Ivory Coast, 4-2 on penalties, setting up the ensuing final’s match with Zambia. Rashidi Yekini led the 1994 A.F.C.O.N. with five goals scored and was deservedly voted the tournament’s best player. During World Cup 1994 U.S.A. qualification matches, Nigeria did away with the Ivory Coast 2-1, and likewise defeated Algeria in a convincing manner, 4-1. In the return-leg matches, Nigeria routed the Ivory Coast, 4-1 and drew with Algeria 1-1, finishing atop Group A with five points. And then underdog Nigeria’s glorious run at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, including two impressive, comeback wins against Brazil and Argentina in the semi-final and final match, respectively.

Granted that nobody expected an African nation, let alone Nigeria, would be able to finish number one at a major international soccer competition, i.e, 1996 Summer Olympics, their first place finish (gold medal) was even more gratifying being that it was Nigerian men’s soccer first-ever Olympics gold medal. Coached by the Dutchman, Jo Bonfrere, the aforementioned Nigerian Olympics gold medal-winning team featured numerous energetic young guns: silky-smooth, talented striker Nwanku Kanu, lethal, speedy striker Victor Ikpeba, and dribbling genius Augustin “J.J.” Okocha.

In my humble opinion, some of the current generation of Nigerian superstar players i.e, eclectic Chelsea striker Victor Moses, PFC CSKA Moscow speedy striker Ahmed Musa and talented Arsenal striker Alex Iwobi headed to World Cup 2018 Russia are very talented in their own right. But I’m not convinced that the current generation at their best, is better than or can outdo the Rashidi Yekini-Daniel Amokachi generation during their prime years. I will always remember and salute the 1994 World Cup U.S.A. Nigerian Super Eagles, notwithstanding the vicissitude of time.

Below are some Nigeria men’s soccer Golden Generation player statistics:

Nigeria Men’s Soccer Golden Generation Statistics (Select Players) –

Nigeria 1994 A.F.C.O.N. Qualification Matches Results –

Nigeria World Cup 1994 U.S.A. Qualification Matches –

Nigeria World Cup 1998 France Qualification Matches Results –

Nigeria 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics Playoff Matches Results –

Nigeria Men’s National Soccer Team Highlights (1994-2002) –

Nigeria vs Greece 2-0 – F.I.F.A World Cup U.S.A. 1994 Highlights (Foxboro Stadium – Foxborough, Massachusetts – June 30, 1994)

Nigeria vs Bulgaria 3-0 – F.I.F.A. World Cup U.S.A. 1994 Highlights (Cotton Bowl – Dallas, Texas – June 21, 1994)

Nigeria vs Argentina 3-2 – 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics Final – Complete Match (Sanford Stadium – Athens, Georgia, U.S.A. – August 3, 1996)

Nigeria vs Brazil 4-3 – 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics Semi-Final – Complete Match (Sanford Stadium – Athens, Georgia, U.S.A. – July 31, 1996)

Nigeria’s journey to Olympic Football gold – Olympic Channel short documentary

Sources: E.S.P.N.–https://www.espn.com, C.A.F.–https://www.cafonline.com, Wikipedia–https://www.en.wikipedia.org, U.E.F.A. —https://www.uefa.com, F.I.F.A.–https://www.fifa.com, YouTube–https://www.youtube.com