Africa Cup of Nations 2008, team profile:Nigeria

The Nigeria national football team, nicknamed the Super eagles, is the national team of Nigeria and is controlled by the Nigeria Football Association. The highest position ever reached on the ranking was 5th in April 1994. According to FIFA’s rankings, Nigeria, at 19th, are currently the top team in the African continent.

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 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 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.

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.

Team captain- Kanu

TEAM BIO

Nickname: Super Eagles
Associatio: Nigeria Football Association
Confederation: CAF (Africa)
Head coach: Berti Vogts, 2007-
Captain: Nwankwo Kanu
Most caps: Mudashiru Lawal (86)
Top scorer: Rashidi Yekini (37)
Home stadium: Abuja Stadium & Surelere Stadium
FIFA code: NGA
FIFA ranking: 20
Highest FIFA ranking: 5 (April 1994)
Lowest FIFA ranking: 82 (November 1999)
Elo ranking: 30
Highest Elo ranking: 14 (May 31 2004)
Lowest Elo ranking: 87 (December 27 1964)

Team star player- John Obi Mikel

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