The Super Eagles of Nigeria is a team to reckon with in world football. The team has participated in 5 world cups, but since its debut in the USA 94 world cup the team has not gone past the round of 16.
KickandFollow.com takes a look at 5 players that have upset the Super Eagles in the World cup and qualifying campaign.
- Roberto Baggio
Nigeria put up a sensational performance under head coach Clemens Westerhof to top group D on goal difference after defeating Bulgaria 3-o and Greece 2-0. Despite losing to Argentina 2-1, the super Eagles still progressed as group winners. The Super Eagles were then drawn with Italy in the knockout stage. The match ended in a drawby full time with goals coming from Emmanuel Amuneke in the 25th minute and Roberto Baggio in the 88th Minute.
It was a very feisty game as the Eagles were caged by the Azzurri for most parts of the game, the referee also dished out 9 yellow cards and 1 red card; as Gianfranco Zola was sent off.
The Azzurri had to rely on the Vision of Baggio who was open in the box after recieving the ball from Roberto Mussi, and the Italian wasted no time in slotting the ball past Peter Rufai in the 88th minute.
The Match had to go into penalties after extra time, with Baggio being the hero once again, as he sent the gallant eagles crashing out of the tournament.
- Henrik Larsson
The former Celtic and Barcelona Forward sent the Festus Onigbinde led eagles crashing out of the Korea/Japan world cup.
The Eagles had already lost to Argentina courtesy of a Gabriel Batistuta goal but needed a win against the Scandinavians to qualify. Unfortunately, the Super Eagles lost.
A superb goal from Julius Aghahowa put the Eagles ahead but two quick fire goals from the diminutive forward sent Nigeria out of the competition, as England defeated Argentina to book a qualifying spot.
The next match for the Eagles against England was dead rubber as England and Sweden had Qualified. Sweden took the top spot on goal difference and went to the knockout stage where they were defeated by Bruno Metsu’s Senegal.
- Paulo José Lopes de Figueiredo
The Angolan forward scored in the draw between Nigeria and Angola in the 2006 world cup qualifiers. Nigeria had already lost the first leg in Angola by a lone goal courtesy of an Akwa Strike.
The second leg was played in kano and JJ Okocha got on the score sheet. However with 60 minutes on the clock, Figueiredo equalized, and Angola progressed to the world cup finals at the expense of Nigeria based on the head to head rule.
- Didier Drogba
Despite the disappointment of missing the 2006 world cup, the eagles channeled their energy to the Nations cup and performed extremely well under the tutelage of Coach Austine Eguavoen.
The joy of the Eagles was however cut short by the Magnificent Didier Drogba, who pounced on a loss of concentration between the Nigerian centre backs and slotted the ball in between the legs of Goal-keeper Vincent Enyeama to send the Eagles out of the semi-finals in the 2006 African cup of Nations.
The Ivory Coast striker pounced on a lack of concentration between the Nigerian centre backs and slotted the ball in between the legs of Goal-keeper Vincent Enyeama, to send the Eagles out of the semi-finals in the 2006 African cup of Nations.
- Paul Pogba
The French Maestro got the better of the Super Eagles in the Knockout round of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, when he got on the end of the score sheet in the 79th Minute of the game. Sadly the match was done and dusted with an own goal by Joseph Yobo in Stoppage time which signaled the end of the Eagles adventure in Brazil.
