Many, till this day, are of the opinion that since the USA ’94 Super Eagles squad graced our screens, there has not been any Nigerian squad up to par.
This sentiment is not far-fetched. The 1994 World Cup squad holds one of the best World Cup records so far (Round of 16). This record is only also held by the 1998 and 2014 Super Eagles squads.
After years filled with vain struggles, the Super Eagles squad of 1994 were the first Nigerian team to make it to the FIFA World Cup competition, which was held in America.
Managed by French coach
Clemens Westerhof, the 1994 Super Eagles squad stunned the world with an amazing debut as they topped their group which included
Argentina,
Bulgaria, and
Greece to move into the next round of the games.
In the Round of 16 of the USA ’94 World Cup competition, Nigeria played against Italy, and a goal from Emmanuel Amunike, Twenty-five minutes into the game, brought Nigeria just within an inch of moving into the next round. Two minutes before Nigeria qualified for the quarter-final of the World Cup,
Roberto Baggio scored for Italy, taking the game into extra time. Roberto Baggio then scored the winning goal, ending the game 2-1 in favor of Italy.
Super Eagles ’94 Squad
Manager
Clemens Westerhof
Players
| No |
Player |
Date Of Birth |
Caps |
| GoalKeeper |
| 1 |
Peter Rufai |
24 August 1963 |
55 |
| 16 |
Alloysius Agu |
12 July 1967 |
– |
| 22 |
Wilfred Agbonavbare |
5 October 1966 |
– |
| Defender |
| 2 |
Augustine Eguavoen |
19 August 1965 |
35 |
| 19 |
Michael Emenalo |
14 July 1965 |
– |
| 3 |
Bennedict Iroha |
29 November 1969 |
– |
| 4 |
Stephen Keshi (Captain) |
23 January 1962 |
59 |
| 6 |
Chidi N’Wanu |
27 September 1967 |
– |
| 20 |
Uche Okafor |
8 August 1967 |
– |
| 5 |
Uche Okechukwu |
27 September 1967 |
26 |
| Midfielder |
| 7 |
Finidi George |
15 April 1971 |
23 |
| 8 |
Thompson Oliha |
04 October 1968 |
– |
| 10 |
Jay Jay Okocha |
14 August 1973 |
10 |
| 13 |
Emeka Ezeugo |
16 December 1965 |
– |
| 15 |
Sunday Oliseh |
14 September 1974 |
– |
| 18 |
Efan Ekoku |
8 June 1967 |
– |
| 21 |
Mutiu Adepoju |
22 December 1970 |
18 |
| Forward |
| 12 |
Samson Siasia |
14 August 1967 |
32 |
| 9 |
Rashidi Yekini |
23 October 1963 |
46 |
| 14 |
Daniel Amokachi |
30 December 1972 |
26 |
| 17 |
Victor Ikpeba |
12 June 1973 |
– |
Feature image photo credit: www.monitor.co.ug
