The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is essentially the most prestigious soccer event on the African continent. Since its inception in 1957, it has captured the hearts and minds of soccer followers world wide and showcased the immense expertise and keenness for the game in Africa.
With a wealthy historical past and a rising fan base, the AFCON has grow to be a cultural phenomenon, uniting nations and creating unforgettable moments on the soccer area.
From legendary gamers to memorable matches, this event is a celebration of African soccer and a platform to showcase the continent's soccer prowess to the world.
On this article, The Guardian Sports activities delves into ten superb details about Nigeria through the Africa Cup of Nations…
Rashidi Yekini (AFCON'S third all-time high scorer)
Rashidi Yekini might have handed away on Might 4, 2012, however that hasn't stopped the Nigerian soccer legend from setting numerous data on the African Cup of Nations.
Yekini scored 13 AFCON objectives, making him the competitors's third all-time high scorer behind Ivory Coast's Laurent Pokou, who hit the again of the web fourteen instances.
Samuel Eto'o, the retired Cameroon worldwide striker, is the Cup of Nations' main goalscorer, scoring 18 objectives in six tournaments between 2000 and 2010.
Yekini (high scorer of Senegal 92 and Tunisia 94)
Yekini scored 4 objectives to assert the Golden Boot as Nigeria gained bronze on the 1992 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Senegal.
On the 1994 African Cup of Nations, hosted by Tunisia, Rashidi Yekini completed as the very best goalscorer and in addition as participant of the event.
Moreover, Yekini helped the Tremendous Eagles win the AFCON trophy in Tunisia, the place the late striker topped the charts after scoring 5 objectives.
Yekini is Nigeria's high worldwide scorer with 37 objectives, with the lanky ahead having held the file for greater than 20 years.
Nigeria (three-time AFCON winners)
The Nigeria nationwide soccer staff, also known as the Tremendous Eagles, has a powerful file within the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), having gained the title thrice.
The staff's first win got here in 1980 after they hosted the event. They defeated Algeria 3-0 within the ultimate on the Nationwide Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, to seize their first AFCON title.
Nigeria's second AFCON victory got here in 1994, when Tunisia hosted the event. Coached by Dutchman Clemens Westerhof, the Tremendous Eagles defeated Zambia 2-1 within the ultimate to safe the championship.
The staff's most up-to-date AFCON success got here in South Africa in 2013. Below the management of coach Stephen Keshi, Nigeria gained the event for the third time. They defeated Burkina Faso 1–0 within the ultimate, with Sunday Mba scoring the successful aim.
Nwankwo Kanu (Most AFCON event appearances by a Nigerian)
Nwankwo Kanu is the Nigerian participant with essentially the most appearances at an AFCON event, with the retired ahead having attended six editions in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010.
Sadly, Kanu, one of many happiest, clever and sensible footballers to emerge from the continent, by no means gained an AFCON title.
The closest he got here was in 2000, when Nigeria misplaced 4-3 to Cameroon on penalties on the Nationwide Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, after drawing 2-2 in common time.
Kanu stays essentially the most embellished Nigerian footballer in historical past and there may be hardly any male African participant, lively or retired, who may compete with him by way of the variety of trophies gained.
Segun Odegbami (high scorer of Ghana 78 and Nigeria 80)
Odegbami gained 46 caps and scored 23 objectives for the Nigerian nationwide staff, which he guided to its first African Cup of Nations title within the 1980 event in his dwelling nation.
The retired winger turned Ghana's highest goalscorer together with Opoku Afriyie and Phillip Omondi in 1978, after the three gamers scored thrice every as Nigeria completed third.
Emmanuel Emenike (South Africa high scorer 2013)
Emmanuel Emenike was the highest scorer on the 2013 AFCON event in South Africa with 4 objectives because the Tremendous Eagles gained their third title.
His 4 objectives proved essential to Nigeria's progress within the event and he was included within the African Cup of Nation Match squad.
Nonetheless, Emenike was not included within the ultimate on account of a thigh harm. He was additionally awarded the Pepsi Match Prime Scorer with 4 objectives, together with Ghana's Wakaso Mubarak.
The powerplaying ahead has performed throughout Europe for a number of groups together with Karabukspor, Fenerbahce and Spartak Moscow.
He additionally had a quick spell at Al Ain earlier than becoming a member of West Ham, Olympiacos and Las Palmas in Spain.
Stephen Keshi (title gained as participant and coach)
There’s hardly any success in Nigerian soccer historical past, previous or current, that’s not linked to the 'Huge Boss'.
As a participant, Keshi gained the WAFU Cup twice with New Nigeria Financial institution (NNB). He then moved to Abidjan and performed for Stade'Abidjan and Africa Sports activities.
He additionally gained the 1994 African Cup of Nations in Tunisia and attended the 1994 World Cup, retiring as one of many longest-serving Tremendous Eagles captains with 60 caps.
Keshi achieved a variety of vital achievements as a coach, together with Togo's qualification for its first FIFA World Cup ultimate in 2006.
He additionally led Nigeria to AFCON victory in 2013 as a coach, 19 years after doing the identical as a participant. He died in Benin Metropolis in 2016.
Nigeria (most AFCON bronze medalists)
Nigeria has secured the very best variety of bronze medals on the African Cup of Nations, with the West African nation successful eight to this point.
Odion Ighalo's second-minute aim, his fifth of the event, gave Nigeria the bronze medal on the 2019 AFCON with a 1-0 win over Tunisia in Cairo, Egypt.
This was the eighth time Nigeria had performed an AFCON third-place play-off they usually maintained their file of successful the bronze medal match on every event with an exhilarating victory at Al Salam Stadium.
Austin Jay Jay Okocha (scored 1,000th AFCON aim)
Austin 'Jay Jay' Okocha scored the 1,000th aim of the African Cup of Nations in opposition to Cameroon at Tunisia 2004 because the Tremendous Eagles gained the quarter-final 2-1.
Jay Jay is thought to be essentially the most expert African participant who, regardless of his immense contributions to African soccer, has by no means gained the African Footballer of the Yr award.
Nonetheless, he gained the BBC African Footballer of the Yr Awards in 2003 and 2004, the identical yr he turned joint high scorer on the AFCON with 4 objectives.
Though he got here into the highlight enjoying for Eintracht Frankfurt at a time when racism was the hallmark of German soccer, Okocha went on to play for among the greatest golf equipment in Europe, together with Fenerbahce, PSG after which Bolton Wanderers.
He was a part of the victorious Tremendous Eagles who gained the Nations Cup in 1994 and certified for the World Cup within the USA.
He stood out as essentially the most constant Tremendous Eagles participant on the 1998 World Cup in France, a feat that earned him a then African recording contract with PSG.
Odion Ighalo (Egypt high scorer 2019)
Ighalo scored seven objectives within the 2019 African Cup of Nations qualifying marketing campaign, essentially the most of any participant, to assist Nigeria qualify for the finals in Egypt later that yr.
He was a part of Gernot Rohr's squad, collaborating in all matches and discovering the web in opposition to Burundi within the group stage (1–0), Cameroon within the spherical of 16 (brace in a 3–2 win).
Ighalo additionally scored in opposition to Algeria within the semi-finals (1–2 loss) and Tunisia within the third place play-offs (1–0) and on the finish of the competitors he scored 5 objectives to emerge as high scorer.