Football did not exist in Nigeria till the British introduced it. Once a British colony, Nigeria was under the influence of the British, which had a major influence on the country, with both good and bad results. The sport was first played in Lagos in 1904 as a friendly match, with the Nigerian team winning 3-2. Since then, football in Nigeria has grown at a phenomenal rate.
Why are these milestones worth knowing? Football has played a significant part in building the Nigerian identity. The sport has given Nigerians everywhere a sense of community. If there is one sport that can bring Nigerians together, it is football and other activities like simulated reality league for Nigeria and video games. Other sporting activities, like basketball and cricket, also attract just as much attention in Nigeria.
Let’s begin.
As you already know, we have the British to thank for the gift of football. This is where the main gist is; what Nigerians did with this sport and how far they’ve come since the beginning.
1. Foundation of National Football Federation
The first milestone was the formation of the National Football Federation, formerly known as the National Football Association. This body was formed to oversee the activities of the national football team, now known as The Super Eagles.
2. Getting Many Awards
So far, since the inception of this team, Nigeria has been recognized worldwide as one of the best football teams in the world, and after winning so many awards, why wouldn’t they be?
One such award is the African Cup of Nations, which the Nigerian Super Eagles have won three times. The first cup they won was in 1980. They played the match at the home front against the Algerian team and defeated them with a score of three to nothing.
The second was won in 1994, against Zambia. This match was played in Tunisia, and the Nigerian team won with a score of two to one.
The third time was in 2013 against Burkina Faso; it was their first time in the finals in the AFCON game. These victories gave Nigeria its place in the AFCON records as a three-time winner.
3. Winning the 1996 Olympic Football Competition
Another major accomplishment for the Super Eagles was winning the 1996 Olympic football competition in Atlanta. This game was played against Argentina, with Nigeria winning with a score of 3 to two. This made Nigeria the first African country to win an Olympic gold medal.
4. Getting Qualified for the World Cup Six Times
Qualifying for the World Cup, as you know, is not an easy feat for any team. But the Nigerian Super Eagles did this and did it six times over. Out of those six World Cups, they won one. Although this was a long time ago, it is still in the history books, so it should be honoured.
5. Formation of Women’s Team
A national women’s football team was formed in 1970. First called the Sugar Babies FC, their name was later changed (thankfully) to Golden Wonders. They were renamed again, and we knew them now as the Super Falcons since 1991. The Super Falcons, years after they were formed, have made a name for themselves as one of the best football teams in the world. And there is no reason they would not be, after winning nine AFCON games, qualifying for every season of the FIFA World Cup since 1991, and have remained among the top eight teams.
Conclusion
With a long list of achievements, it’s no doubt that football has come very far since it first began; take a closer look, if you will. The love and passion for the game have been kept alive year after year, and we know it will remain that way.
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