Nigeria national football team
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225887082
2008-07-15T21:32:48Z
Jimbo online
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/* Recent call-ups */ piped links
{{Infobox National football team
| Name = Nigeria
| Badge = Nigeriafootballassociation.gif
| Image 16414430
Superchicken2
| Badge_size = 80px
| FIFA Rank = 26
| FIFA max = 5
| FIFA max date = April 1994
| FIFA min = 82
| FIFA min date = November 1999
| Elo Rank = 33
| Elo max = 14|
| Elo max date = May 31 2004|
| Elo min = 87|
| Elo min date = December 27 1964|
| Nickname = Super Eagles
| Association = [[Nigeria Football Association]]
| Confederation = [[Confederation of African Football|CAF]] ([[Africa]])
| Home Stadium = [[Abuja Stadium]]
| Coach = {{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Shaibu Amodu]]
| Captain = [[Nwankwo Kanu]]
| Vice-captain = [[Joseph Yobo]]
| Most caps = [[Mudashiru Lawal]] (86)
| Top scorer = [[Rashidi Yekini]] (37)
| FIFA Trigramme = NGA
| pattern_la1=_whiteshoulders|pattern_b1=|pattern_ra1=_whiteshoulders|
| leftarm1=008000|body1=008000|rightarm1=008000|shorts1=008000|socks1=008000
| pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=
| leftarm2=FFFFFF|body2=FFFFFF|rightarm2=FFFFFF|shorts2=FFFFFF|socks2=FFFFFF
| First game = {{flagicon|Nigeria}} Nigeria 2 - 0 {{fb-rt|Sierra Leone}}<br/>([[Lagos]], [[Nigeria]]; [[8 October]], [[1949]])
| Largest win = {{flagicon|Nigeria}} Nigeria 10 - 1 {{fb-rt|Benin}}<br/>([[Lagos]], [[Nigeria]]; [[28 November]], [[1959]])
| Largest loss = {{fb|Ghana}} 7 - 0 Nigeria {{flagicon|Nigeria}}<br/>([[Accra]], [[Ghana]]; [[1 June]] [[1955]])| World cup apps = 3
| World cup first = 1994
| World cup best = Round 2, [[Football World Cup 1994|1994]] and [[Football World Cup 1998|1998]]
| Regional name = [[African Nations Cup]]
| Regional cup apps = 15
| Regional cup first = [[1963 African Nations Cup|1963]]
| Regional cup best = Winners, [[1980 African Nations Cup|1980]] and [[1994 African Nations Cup|1994]]|
Confederations cup apps = 1 |
Confederations cup first = 1995 |
Confederations cup best = 4th, [[Confederations Cup 1995|1995]]
}}
{{MedalTop}}
{{MedalSport | Men’s [[Football at the Summer Olympics|Football]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Atlanta]] | [[Football at the 1996 Summer Olympics|Team]]}}
{{MedalBottom}}
The '''Nigeria national football team''', nicknamed the ''Super Eagles'', is the national team of [[Nigeria]] and is controlled by the [[Nigeria Football Association]]. According to [[FIFA]]'s [[FIFA World Rankings|rankings]], Nigeria, at 45th, are currently the 6th best team in the African continent. The highest position ever reached on the ranking was [[5th]] in [[April 1994]].
==History==
Nigeria played their first game in October 1949, whilst still a [[British colony]]. The team's first major success was a gold medal in the [[1973 All-Africa Games|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 F.C.|Leyton Orient]]'s [[John Cheidozie]] and the [[Tunji Banjo]], and the [[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 national football team|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 [[Football World Cup 1990|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.
Nigeria reached the [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] for the first time in [[Football World Cup 1994]].They were managed by [[Clemens Westerhof]] who is commonly considered to be the best coach to have ever lead Nigeria. Nigeria topped their group which included Argentina, Bulgaria, and Greece. In their first game Nigeria defeated Bulgaria 3-0, lost to Argentina 2-1, and qualified for the second round after a 2-0 defeat of Greece. In the second round Nigeria played Italy and took the lead with a goal from Amunike at 25 min. Nigeria were within 1 minute of qualifying for the Quarter finals of 1994 World Cup in the game against [[Italy national football team|Italy]] but [[Roberto Baggio]] scored to take the game to extra time. He also scored the eventual winning goal.
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.
Th 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea 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 FIFA World Cup|2006 World Cup]] to [[Angola national football team|Angola]]. Both teams finished level on points in the group but Nigeria even with a greater [[goal difference]] missed out due to their inferior head to head record against [[Angola national football team|Angola]].
Nigeria won the [[African Nations Cup]] twice ([[1980 African Nations Cup|1980]] and [[1994 African Nations Cup|1994]]), and also won the gold medal at the [[1996 Summer Olympics]].
==Under-21s and under-17s==
Nigeria's Under 17 youth teams won the inaugural [[FIFA U-17 World Championship|Under-16 World Championship]] in 1985 and the Under-17 (the age limit was raised) title in 1993 and in 2007. The under 17 team is known as the [[Golden Eaglets]] while the Under 21 team is known as the Flying Eagles.
Nigeria's Flying Eagles qualified for the first time to represent Africa in a Junior World Cup in [[Mexico]]. Although, Nigeria did not go beyond the first round, having lost 0-3 to Brazil, it beat the highly rated USSR 1-0 and held the [[Netherlands]] to a goalless draw.
In 1985, Nigeria's under-17 football team went to [[China]] and conquered the world in the first ever [[FIFA U-17 World Championship]]. The victory took Nigerian football to a high pedestal, setting the stage for a respect of Nigeria in international competitions. To prove a point of Nigeria's new found strength in football, the nation's under-20 team went to [[Saudi Arabia]] for the [[FIFA World Youth Championship 1989|FIFA World Youth Championship]] in 1989 and lost narrowly in the final to [[Portugal]].
The "miracle of [[Damman]]" (Saturday, February 25, 1989), Nigeria's victory over [[USSR national football team|USSR]] at the quarter final stage; after trailing four goals behind and with only twenty nine minutes left, stunned the world during the championship. Chris Ohenhen scored two freekick goals; the first was an indirect kick with 29 minutes left (assist Dimeji Lawal) and the second was a direct freekick with 15 minutes to go. Samuel Elijah scored Nigeria's third goal with 8 minutes remaining. Nduka Ugbade scored the game tying goal two minutes later. Nigeria won the penalty shootout to complete the miracle comeback with scores from Chris Ohenhen, Mutiu Adepoju, Dimeji Lawal, Peter Ogaba, and Samuel Elijah. Emeka Amadi saved one of the kicks from the Soviets.
In 2007, the under-17 squad carted were crowned world champions in South Korea for the 3rd time.
== Nigeria Football Achievements ==
*{{sport honours|[[African Cup of Nations]]|2|1980, 1994}}
*{{sport honours|[[Football at the All-Africa Games|All-Africa Games]]|1|1973}}
*{{sport honours|[[Afro-Asian Cup of Nations]]|1|1995}}
*{{sport honours|[[CEDEAO Cup]]|1|1990}}
'''Olympic Gold Medal Atlanta '96'''
*{{sport honours|[[African Youth Championship]]|5|1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2005}}
*{{sport honours|[[African Under-17 Championship]]|2|2001, 2007}}
*{{sport honours|[[FIFA U-17 World Cup]]|3|1985, 1993, 2007}}
===World Cup record===
*[[Football World Cup 1930|1930]] to [[Football World Cup 1958|1958]] - ''Did not enter''
*[[Football World Cup 1962|1962]] - ''Did not qualify''
*[[Football World Cup 1966|1966]] - ''Withdrew''
*[[Football World Cup 1970|1970]] to [[Football World Cup 1990|1990]] - ''Did not qualify''
*[[Football World Cup 1994|1994]] - Round 2
*[[Football World Cup 1998|1998]] - Round 2
*[[Football World Cup 2002|2002]] - Round 1
*[[Football World Cup 2006|2006]] - ''Did not qualify''
===African Cup of Nations record===
{|
|valign="top"|
*[[1957 African Nations Cup|1957]] - ''Did not enter''
*[[1959 African Nations Cup|1959]] - ''Did not enter''
*[[1962 African Nations Cup|1962]] - ''Withdrew''
*[[1963 African Nations Cup|1963]] - Round 1
*[[1965 African Nations Cup|1965]] - ''Did not enter''
*[[1968 African Nations Cup|1968]] - ''Did not qualify''
*[[1970 African Nations Cup|1970]] - ''Withdrew''
*[[1972 African Nations Cup|1972]] - ''Did not qualify''
*[[1974 African Nations Cup|1974]] - ''Did not qualify''
*[[1976 African Nations Cup|1976]] - Third place
*[[1978 African Nations Cup|1978]] - Third place
*[[1980 African Nations Cup|1980]] - '''Champions'''
*[[1982 African Nations Cup|1982]] - Round 1
|width="50"|
|valign="top"|
*[[1984 African Nations Cup|1984]] - Second place
*[[1986 African Nations Cup|1986]] - ''Did not qualify''
*[[1988 African Nations Cup|1988]] - Second place
*[[1990 African Nations Cup|1990]] - Second place
*[[1992 African Nations Cup|1992]] - Third place
*[[1994 African Nations Cup|1994]] - '''Champions'''
*[[1996 African Nations Cup|1996]] - ''Withdrew from tournament''
*[[1998 African Nations Cup|1998]] - ''Disqualified for failure to participate in 1996''
*[[2000 African Nations Cup|2000]] - Second place
*[[2002 African Nations Cup|2002]] - Third place
*[[2004 African Nations Cup|2004]] - Third place
*[[2006 African Nations Cup|2006]] - Third place
*[[2008 African Nations Cup|2008]] - Quarterfinals
|}
==Current squad==
The following players were called for the friendly match against [[Austria national football team|Austria]] on [[May 27]] [[2008]] and [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification]].
{{nat fs g start}}
{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=GK|name=[[Vincent Enyeama]]|age={{birth date and age|1982|8|29|df=y}}|caps=35|goals=0|club=[[Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C.|Hapoel Tel Aviv]]|clubnat=ISR}}
{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=GK|name=[[Dele Aiyenugba]]|age={{birth date and age|1983|11|20|df=y}}|caps=8|goals=0|club=[[Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv F.C.|Bnei Yehuda]]|clubnat=ISR}}
{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=GK|name=[[Greg Etafia]]|age={{birth date and age|1982|9|30|df=y}}|caps=|goals=|club=[[Moroka Swallows]]|clubnat=RSA}}
|-----
! colspan="9" bgcolor="#B0D3FB" align="left" |
|----- bgcolor="#DFEDFD"
{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=DF|name=[[Onyekachi Apam]]|age={{birth date and age|1985|12|30|df=y}}|caps=2|goals=0|club=[[OGC Nice|Nice]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=DF|name=[[Uwa Elderson Echiéjilé]]|age={{birth date and age|1988|1|20}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[Stade Rennais]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=DF|name=[[Yusuf Mohamed]]|age={{birth date and age|1983|11|5}}|caps=|goals=|club=[[Al-Hilal (Omdurman)|Al-Hilal]]|clubnat=Sudan}}
{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=DF|name=[[Joseph Yobo]]|age={{birth date and age|1980|9|6|df=y}}|caps=50|goals=2|club=[[Everton F.C.|Everton]]|clubnat=ENG}}
{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=DF|name=[[Taye Taiwo]]|age={{birth date and age|1985|4|16|df=y}}|caps=26|goals=7|club=[[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=DF|name=[[Obinna Nwaneri]]|age={{birth date and age|1982|3|19|df=y}}|caps=18|goals=1|club=[[FC Sion]]|clubnat=SUI}}
|-----
! colspan="9" bgcolor="#B0D3FB" align="left" |
|----- bgcolor="#DFEDFD"
{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Kalu Uche]]|age={{birth date and age|1982|11|15|df=y}}|caps=|goals=|club=[[UD Almería]]|clubnat=ESP}}
{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Lukman Haruna]]|age={{birth date and age|1990|12|4|df=y}}|caps=2|goals=0|club=[[AS Monaco FC|AS Monaco]]|clubnat=France}}
{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Christian Obodo|Chris Obodo]]|age={{birth date and age|1984|5|11|df=y}}|caps=|goals=|club=[[Udinese Calcio|Udinese]]|clubnat=ITA}}
{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=MF|name=[[John Obi Mikel]]|age={{birth date and age|1987|4|22|df=y}}|caps=19|goals=2|club=[[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]]|clubnat=ENG}}
|-----
! colspan="9" bgcolor="#B0D3FB" align="left" |
|----- bgcolor="#DFEDFD"
{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=FW|name=[[Ikechukwu Uche|Ike Uche]]|age={{birth date and age|1984|1|5|df=y}}|caps=5|goals=1|club=[[Getafe CF|Getafe]]|clubnat=ESP}}
{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=FW|name=[[John Utaka]]|age={{birth date and age|1982|1|8|df=y}}|caps=30|goals=5|club=[[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]]|clubnat=ENG}}
{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=FW|name=[[Kayode Odejayi]]|age={{birth date and age|1982|2|21|df=y}}|caps=1|goals=0||club=[[Barnsley FC|Barnsley]]|clubnat=ENG}}
{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=FW|name=[[Peter Odemwingie]]|age={{birth date and age|1981|7|15|df=y}}|caps=20|goals=5|club=[[FC Lokomotiv Moscow|Lokomotiv Moscow]]|clubnat=RUS}}
{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=FW|name=[[Nwankwo Kanu]]|age={{birth date and age|1976|8|1|df=y}}|caps=68|goals=13|club=[[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]]|clubnat=ENG}}
{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=FW|name=[[Yakubu Aiyegbeni]]|age={{birth date and age|1982|11|22|df=y}}|caps=36|goals=16|club=[[Everton F.C.|Everton]]|clubnat=ENG}}
{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=FW|name=[[Victor Anichebe]]|age={{birth date and age|1988|4|23|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[Everton F.C.|Everton]]|clubnat=ENG}}
{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=FW|name=[[Victor Nsofor Obinna|Victor Obinna]]|age={{birth date and age|1987|3|25|df=y}}|caps=7|goals=1|club=[[F.C. Internazionale Milano|Inter]]|clubnat=ITA}}
{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=FW|name=[[Emmanuel Okoduwa]]|age={{birth date and age|1983|11|21|df=y}}|caps=|goals=||club=[[FC Dynamo Kyiv|Dynamo Kyiv]]|clubnat=UKR}}
{{nat fs end}}
===Recent call-ups===
The following players have also been called up to the Nigeria squad in 2008.
;Goalkeepers
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!width=20%|Name
!width=15%|Date of birth
!width=23.75%|Club
!width=10%|Caps (goals)
!width=43.75%|Most Recent Call up
|-
| [[Austin Ejide]]
|align=right| [[April 8]] [[1984]]
| {{flagicon|France}} [[SC Bastia]]
|align=center| 12 (0)
| v. [[Ghana national football team|Ghana]], [[3 February]], [[2008]]
|-
|}
;Defenders
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!width=20%|Name
!width=15%|Date of birth
!width=23.75%|Club
!width=10%|Caps (goals)
!width=43.75%|Most Recent Call up
|-
| [[Danny Shittu]]
|align=right| [[September 2]], [[1980]]
| {{flagicon|England}} [[Watford F.C.|Watford]]
|align=center| 12 (0)
| v. [[Ghana national football team|Ghana]], [[3 February]], [[2008]]
|-
| [[Ifeanyi Emeghara]]
|align=right| [[March 24]], [[1984]]
| {{flagicon|Romania}} [[FC Steaua Bucharest|Steaua Bucharest]]
|align=center| 2 (0)
| v. [[Ghana national football team|Ghana]], [[3 February]], [[2008]]
|-
| [[Rabiu Afolabi]]
|align=right| [[April 18]], [[1980]]
| {{flagicon|France}} [[FC Sochaux-Montbéliard|Sochaux]]
|align=center| 10 (1)
| v. [[Benin national football team|Benin]], [[29 January]], [[2008]]
|-
| [[Efe Ambrose]]
|align=right| [[October 18]], [[1988]]
| {{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Kaduna United F.C.|Kaduna United]]
|align=center| 0 (0)
|-
| [[Chidi Odiah]]
|align=right| [[December 17]], [[1983]]
| {{flagicon|Russia}} [[CSKA Moscow]]
|align=center| 15 (0)
|-
| [[Kingsley Udoh]]
|align=right| [[December 07]], [[1990]]
| {{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Akwa United F.C.|Akwa United]]
|align=center| 0 (0)
|-
| [[Kingsley Salami]]
|align=right| [[February 27]], [[1987]]
| {{flagicon|England}} [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]]
|align=center| 0 (0)
|-
| [[Nduka Ozokwo]]
|align=right| [[December 25]], [[1988]]
| {{flagicon|France}} [[OGC Nice]]
|align=center| 0 (0)
|-
|}
;Midfielders
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!width=20%|Name
!width=15%|Date of birth
!width=23.75%|Club
!width=10%|Caps (goals)
!width=43.75%|Most Recent Call up
|-
| [[Dickson Etuhu]]
|align=right| [[June 8]], [[1982]]
| {{flagicon|England}} [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]
|align=center| 2 (0)
| v. [[Ghana national football team|Ghana]], [[3 February]], [[2008]]
|-
| [[Seyi Olofinjana]]
|align=right| [[June 12]] [[1980]]
| {{flagicon|England}} [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton]]
|align=center| 17 (0)
| v. [[Ghana national football team|Ghana]], [[3 February]], [[2008]]
|-
| [[Richard Eromoigbe]]
|align=right| [[June 26]] [[1984]]
| {{flagicon|Russia}} [[FC Khimki]]
|align=center| 4 (0)
| v. [[Ghana national football team|Ghana]], [[3 February]], [[2008]]
|-
| [[Onyekachi Okonkwo]]
|align=right| [[May 13]] [[1982]]
| {{flagicon|Switzerland}} [[FC Zürich]]
|align=center| 8 (0)
| v. [[Ivory Coast national football team|Ivory Coast]], [[21 January]], [[2008]]
|-
| [[Ayila Yussuf]]
|align=right| [[November 04]] [[1984]]
| {{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[FC Dynamo Kyiv]]
|align=center| 10 (1)
|-
| [[Rabiu Ibrahim]]
|align=right| [[March 15]] [[1991]]
| {{flagicon|Portugal}} [[Sporting Clube de Portugal]]
|align=center| 0 (0)
|-
| [[Oladapo Olufemi]]
|align=right| [[May 11]] [[1988]]
| {{flagicon|Portugal}} [[Boavista F.C.|Boavista]]
|align=center| 0 (0)
|-
| [[Mozes Adams]]
|align=right| [[June 21]] [[1988]]
| {{flagicon|Belgium}} [[KVC Westerlo]]
|align=center| 0 (0)
|-
| [[Blessing Okardi]]
|align=right| [[November 5]] [[1988]]
| {{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Ocean Boys F.C.]]
|align=center| 0 (0)
|-
| [[Ezekiel Bala]]
|align=right| [[April 8]] [[1987]]
| {{flagicon|Norway}} [[Bryne FK]]
|align=center| 0 (0)
|-
| [[Chukwuma Akabueze]]
|align=right| [[May 6]] [[1989]]
| {{flagicon|Norway}} [[Odd Grenland B.K.]]
|align=center| 0 (0)
|-
| [[Akeem Agbetu]]
|align=right| [[March 10]] [[1988]]
| {{flagicon|Denmark}} [[Kolding FC]]
|align=center| 0 (0)
|}
;Strikers
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!width=20%|Name
!width=15%|Date of birth
!width=23.75%|Club
!width=10%|Caps (goals)
!width=43.75%|Most Recent Call up
|-
| [[Stephen Makinwa]]
|align=right| [[July 26]], [[1983]]
| {{flagicon|Italy}} [[SS Lazio|Lazio]]
|align=center| 6 (0)
| v. [[Mali national football team|Mali]], [[25 January]], [[2008]]
|-
| [[Obafemi Martins]]
|align=right| [[October 28]], [[1984]]
| {{flagicon|England}} [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]]
|align=center| 21 (13)
| v. [[Mali national football team|Mali]], [[25 January]], [[2008]]
|-
| [[Brown Ideye]]
|align=right| [[October 10]], [[1988]]
| {{flagicon|Switzerland}} [[Neuchâtel Xamax]]
|align=center| 0 (0)
|}
==Famous players==
{|
|valign="top"|
'''1970s - '''
* [[Christian Chukwu]]
* [[Segun Odegbami]]
* [[Mudashiru Lawal]]
* [[Emmanuel Okala]]
'''1980s - '''
* [[Stephen Keshi]]
* [[Henry Nwosu]]
* [[Samuel Okwaraji]]
* [[Rashidi Yekini]]
* [[Samson Siasia]]
'''1990s -'''
* [[Uche Okechukwu]]
* [[Daniel Amokachi]]
* [[Finidi George]]
* [[Victor Ikpeba]] <small>''([[African Footballer of the Year]] 1997)''</small>
* [[Emmanuel Amuneke|Emmanuel Amunike]] <small>''([[African Footballer of the Year]] 1994)''</small>
|width="33"|
|valign="top"|
* [[Sunday Oliseh]]
* [[Jay-Jay Okocha]] <small>''(A member of [[FIFA 100]])''</small>
* [[Garba Lawal]]
* [[Peter Rufai]]
* [[Mutiu Adepoju]]
* [[Taribo West]]
* [[Nwankwo Kanu]] <small>''([[African Footballer of the Year]] 1996, 1999)''</small>
* [[Tijjani Babangida]]
* [[Celestine Babayaro]]
* [[Julius Aghahowa]]
'''2000s -'''
* [[Aiyegbeni Yakubu]]
* [[John Utaka]]
* [[Joseph Yobo]]
* [[Obafemi Martins]]
* [[Peter Odemwingie]]
* [[John Obi Mikel]]
* [[Taye Taiwo]]
* [[Christian Obodo]]
* [[Ikechukwu Uche]]
|}
==Manager history==
Team managers of Nigeria and the dates they took over.
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" style="border-collapse: collapse;"
!style="background:#008000;"|<font color="white">Date appointed
!style="background:#008000;"|<font color="white">Manager name
|-
|[[2008]] ||{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Shaibu Amodu]]
|-
|[[2008]] ||{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[James Peters (coach)|James Peters]]
|-
|[[2007]] - [[2008]]||{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Berti Vogts]]
|-
|2005 - 2007||{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Augustine Eguavoen]]
|-
|2002 - 2005||{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Christian Chukwu]]
|-
|2002||{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Adegboyega Onigbinde]]
|-
|2001 - 2002||{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Shaibu Amodu]]
|-
|1999 - 2001||{{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Johannes Bonfrere]]
|-
|1999 - 1999||{{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Thijs Libregts]]
|-
|1998 - 1998||{{flagicon|Serbia}} {{flagicon|Mexico}} [[Bora Milutinović]]
|-
|1997 - 1998||{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Monday Sinclar]]
|-
|1997 - 1998||{{flagicon|France}} [[Philippe Troussier]]
|-
|1996 - 1997||{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Shaibu Amodu]]
|-
|1995 - 1996||{{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Johannes Bonfere]]
|-
|1994 - 1995||{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Shaibu Amodu]]
|-
|1989 - 1994||{{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Clemens Westerhof]]
|-
|1987 - 1989||{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Paul Hamilton(Footballer)|Paul Hamilton]]
|-
|1988 - 1989||{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Manfred Hoener]]
|-
|1985||{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Patrick Ekeji]]
|-
|1984 - 1986||{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Chris Udemezue]]
|-
|1983 - 1984||{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Adegboyega Onigbinde]]
|-
|1981||{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Gottlieb Goller]]
|-
|1979 - 1982||{{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Otto Gloria]]
|-
|1970 - 1971 & 1974||{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Heinz Marotze]]
|-
|1974 - 1978||{{flagicon|Yugoslavia}} [[Tihomir Jelisavčić|Jelisavčić 'Tiki' Tihomir]]
|-
|1972 - 1973 & 1963 - 1964 ||{{flagicon|Brazil}} [[George Penna]]
|-
|1969 - 1970||{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Peter Amaechina|Peter 'Eto' Amaechina]]
|-
|1965 - 1968||{{flagicon|Hungary}} [[Joseph Ember]]
|-
|1964 - 1965||{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Daniel Anyiam]]
|-
|1961 - 1963||{{flagicon|Hungary}} [[George Vardar]]
|-
|1960 - 1961||{{flagicon|Israel}} [[Moshe Beth-Halevi]]
|-
|1956 - 1960||{{flagicon|England}} [[Les Courtier]]
|-
|1954 - 1956||{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Daniel Anyiam]]
|-
|1949||{{flagicon|England}} [[John Finch (Footballer)|John Finch]]
|-
|}
==Top 10 Goalscorers==
List of Nigeria's top ten highest ever international goalscorers.
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" style="border-collapse: collapse;"
!style="background:#008000;"|<font color="white">Goal scored
!style="background:#008000;"|<font color="white">Player name
|-
|37||{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Rashidi Yekini]]
|-
|24||{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Segun Odegbami]]
|-
|17||{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Sunday Oyarekhua]]
|-
|17||{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Yakubu]]
|-
|16||{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Samson Siasia]]
|-
|15||{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Thompson Usiyan]]
|-
|14||{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Jay-Jay Okocha]]
|-
|14||{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Julius Aghahowa]]
|-
|13||{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Nwankwo Kanu]]
|-
|13||{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Obafemi Martins]]
|-
|}
==Recent results==
*[[2010 African Cup of Nations (qualification)|2010 African Cup of Nations Qualifying]] Group 4:
** {{fb|NGA}} 2 v 0 {{flagicon|South Africa}}, [[1 June]] [[2008]]
** {{fb|Sierra Leone}} 0 v 1 {{fb|NGA}}, [[7 June]] [[2008]]
** {{fb|Equatorial Guinea}} 0 v 1 {{fb|NGA}}, [[15 June]] [[2008]]
** {{fb|NGA}} 1 v 0 {{fb|Equatorial Guinea}}, [[21 June]] [[2008]]
** {{fb|RSA}} v {{fb|NGA}}, [[5 September]] [[2008]]
** {{fb|NGA}} v {{fb|Sierra Leone}}, [[11 October]] [[2008]]
*[[2008 African Cup of Nations (qualification)|2008 African Cup of Nations Qualifying]] Group 3:
** {{fb|NGA}} 2 v 0 {{fb|NIG}}, [[2 September]] [[2006]]
** {{fb|LES}} 0 v 1 {{fb|NGA}}, [[8 October]] [[2006]]
** {{fb|NGA}} 1 v 0 {{fb|UGA}}, [[24 March]] [[2007]]
** {{fb|UGA}} 2 v 1 {{fb|NGA}}, [[2 June]] [[2007]]
** {{fb|NIG}} 1 v 3 {{fb|NGA}}, [[16 June]] [[2007]]
** {{fb|NGA}} 2 v 0 {{fb|LES}}, [[8 September]] [[2007]]
==Friendly Matches:==
** {{fb|NGA}} 2 - 2 {{fb|MEX}}, [[14 October]] [[2007]]
** {{fb|NGA}} 0 - 1 {{fb|AUS}}, [[17 November]] [[2007]]
** {{fb|NGA}} 1 - 0 {{fb|CH}}, [[November 20]] [[2007]]
** {{fb|NGA}} 2 - 0 {{fb|SUD}}, [[9 January]] [[2008]]
** {{fb|NGA}} 1 - 1 {{fb|AUT}}, [[28 May]] [[2008]]
==External links==
*[http://www.kickoffnigeria.com/ KickOffNigeria.com - A Nigerian football magazine]
*[http://forum.cybereagles.com/ cybereagles.com - An online forum for discussing all things Nigerian football]
*[http://www.completesportsnigeria.com// Complete Sports Online]
*[http://www.rsssf.com/tablesn/nig-intres.html RSSSF archive of results 1955-]
*[http://www.supereaglesnation.com/ Nigerian Football Statistics and Articles]
*[http://www.SiaOne.com/ U-23/Olympic coach, Samson Siasia at SiaOne.com]
{{fb start}}
{{Football in Nigeria}}
{{International Football}}
{{CAF teams}}
{{2008 Africa Cup of Nations finalists}}
{{fb end}}
[[Category:African national football teams]]
[[Category:Football in Nigeria]]
[[Category:National sports teams of Nigeria|Football]]
[[ar:منتخب نيجيريا لكرة القدم]]
[[ca:Selecció de futbol de Nigèria]]
[[de:Nigerianische Fußballnationalmannschaft]]
[[es:Selección de fútbol de Nigeria]]
[[fr:Équipe du Nigeria de football]]
[[ko:나이지리아 축구 국가대표팀]]
[[id:Tim nasional sepak bola Nigeria]]
[[it:Nazionale di calcio della Nigeria]]
[[he:נבחרת ניגריה בכדורגל]]
[[lv:Nigērijas futbola izlase]]
[[lt:Nigerijos vyrų futbolo rinktinė]]
[[hu:Nigériai labdarúgó-válogatott]]
[[nl:Nigeriaans voetbalelftal]]
[[ja:サッカーナイジェリア代表]]
[[pl:Reprezentacja Nigerii w piłce nożnej]]
[[pt:Seleção Nigeriana de Futebol]]
[[ru:Сборная Нигерии по футболу]]
[[fi:Nigerian jalkapallomaajoukkue]]
[[sv:Nigerias herrlandslag i fotboll]]
[[vi:Đội tuyển bóng đá quốc gia Nigeria]]
[[tr:Nijerya Millî Futbol Takımı]]
[[zh:尼日利亞國家足球隊]]